Tanzanian Security Officers Dismissed Over Poaching

Head of Tanzania’s Kiteto Prison Ally Ramadhani Sauko and his deputy Joseph Kimaro have been fired for possession of giraffe, zebra and ostrich meat, Tanzania’s The Citizen reported Thursday (July 31st).

Sauko and Kimaro were arrested July 23rd with five others carrying the meat on a prison vehicle, and were expelled after police investigations, said Ministry of Home Affairs spokesperson Isaac Nantanga. They have also been accused of allowing government vehicles and weapons to be used in poaching activities.

The government also dismissed two policemen who were arrested at the weekend in the Coast region in possession of 70 elephant tusks with an estimated value of 850 million shillings ($525,000). They were found guilty of conspiring with civilians to transport elephants tusks from Kisarawe to Dar es Salaam. After their dismissal they were charged, along with seven other suspects, with two counts of possession of government trophies and economic sabotage.

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