Mangochi Police Station is keeping in custody two brothers, Cassim and Anold Ayami both aged 35 for illegal possession of live pangolin.
Mangochi Police Station Deputy Public Relations Officer Amina Tepani Daudi told Malawi Muslim Website that the incident occurred on the morning of August 19, 2020 at Mwalandiridwa Resthouse within Mangochi Township.
According to Daudi, on the material day, Wildlife Crime Investigation Unit officers from Lilongwe were tipped by members of the public that the said suspects were offering for sale the prohibited animal at 4.5 million Kwacha.
“The officers in conjunction with Mangochi Police detectives traced the two brothers and arrested them at the said resthouse. The live Pangolin was found hidden in a black school bag under the bed,” he says.
Daudi told Malawi Muslim Website that the duo who comes from Chiponde village traditional authority Jalasi in Mangochi claimed to have acquired the live specie from Mozambique.
Both suspects will appear before court after investigations are completed.
The Police have thanked members of the general public for their support in the fight against wildlife crime in the district.
