Zambian wildlife authorities have arrested 10 suspects after seizing 550 kilogrammes of ivory in Lusaka, in what officials describe as a major breakthrough against organised wildlife trafficking networks operating across Southern Africa.
The operation, carried out on March 9 by the Department of National Parks and Wildlife with intelligence support from the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA), targeted multiple locations in the capital and led to the dismantling of a suspected cross-border syndicate that included a foreign national believed to be the intended buyer.
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Authorities said several of those arrested were repeat offenders previously convicted of wildlife crimes, underlining the persistence of illegal ivory trafficking despite intensified enforcement efforts.
The suspects have been charged with unlawful possession of a prescribed trophy and are awaiting their first court appearance. Conservation groups say the case demonstrates the growing effectiveness of international cooperation between governments, law enforcement agencies and non-governmental organisations in disrupting trafficking networks.
According to EIA Executive Director Mary Rice, closer operational partnerships and intelligence sharing have strengthened investigations and improved conviction rates, building on previous multinational operations such as the 2017 dismantling of the Shuidong ivory smuggling network linking Africa and China.
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