Jenda Police in Mzimba is keeping in custody ad a 35-year-old man for allegedly being found in possession of Ivory on August 30, 2023 at Jenda in the district.

Public relations officer for Jenda Police Station  Sub-Inspector MacFarlane Mseteka, has confirmed the development and identified the suspect as Shadrick Makondetsa.

According to Mseteka, The Wildlife investigators from Lilongwe and detectives from Jenda Police Station, were following up information that a couple is offering for sale raw ivory around Jenda Trading Centre which led to the arrest of Shadrick Makondetsa whilst his accomplice, a woman managed to flee the scene.

Mseteka says the suspect was found with two raw ivories in his traveling bag wrapped in a sack together with a scale.

“Weight and value of the tusks await an analysis from the Department of National Parks and Wildlife.

He has since been charged with being found in possession of specimen of listed species and dealing in Government trophy, which is against sections 86 subsection (1) as read with section 110B subsection (b) and section 91 as read with section 110B subsection (b) of national parks and wildlife Act respectively.

Meanwhile, investigations are under way to arrest the second suspect who is at large and whey found her they will both dragged to court to answer charges.

Shadreck Makondetsa hails from Kaudzu Village in the area of Traditional Authority Sitola in Machinga District.