100 Kalashnikovs seized in Lobéké and Nki parks

According to WWF, Central African rebels who use weapons of war already massacred about 500 elephants since 2007 in the protected areas of the East.

Christian Mbeka and Laurent Eugene Ya are currently detained at the central prison of Bertoua, capital of the region awaiting to be tried by a military tribunal for illegal carrying of arms.

The two defendants were arrested in possession of a Kalashnikov AK 47, by the eco-guards in the Lobéké Park and elements of the gendarmerie brigade of Yokadouma, at the Mambélé checkpoint, district of Moloundou, August 3, 2014.

Sources close to the case reported that Christian Mbeka said "he borrowed this weapon from a certain Laurent". The two suspects who hid the weapon in a Briefcase were en route to Koumela village where they were to proceed with the poaching of elephants.

According to sources from worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF), that technically and logistically supports Minfof in the fight against poaching, "about 100 kalashnikov have been seized in protected areas since 2007, from the Central African Republic and Congo-Brazzaville."

These weapons are used to kill elephants because of their spikes. This demonstrates the intensity of poaching in this part of the country. WWF reports also allege that an estimated 500 elephants have been slaughtered since 2007 with a kalashnikov.

In 2012, the investigations carried out by the same organization showed that the kalashnikov was sold at 60,000 francs in Moloundou, border town with Congo-Brazzaville. Until the recent past, the kalashnikov entry was limited around lobéké Park South of the Park of Nki.

But today, reports indicate that the movement of weapons of war has extended to the North Park of Nki in the Dja biosphere reserve in the localities of Ngoyla, Messok and Lomié, districts of the Department of Haut-Nyong.

On March 27, 2014, Cameroonian and Gabonese eco-guards seized this weapon of war from poachers at the borders of the Nki and Minkébé parks in a joint anti-poaching operation.