Poacher gang flees – leaves vehicle with three oryx carcasses

The Namibian Police has on Wednesday evening confiscated three Oryx carcasses which were poached in the Namib Naukluft National Park. The three suspects managed to escape in the desert under the cover of darkness after the police took up pursuit. They left the getaway car with the carcasses behind.

The incident was announced yesterday during a media briefing at the Swakopmund Police station. “This is a big success and I am confident that we will apprehend the suspects in due course,” said Deputy Commissioner Ottilie Kashuupulwa, Regional Crime Coordinator.
According to Kashuupulwa, the police received a tip-off of a case of poaching going down. The police thereafter set up a roadblock on the turn-off to the Langer Heinrich Uranium Mine leading behind the dunes. “When the suspected car, a green Nissan Double Cab bakkie, approached at about 22:00 the driver immediately left the road and sped off into the desert,” Kashuupulwa said; and added: “Fortunately our members had a 4×4 and took up pursuit.”
After a short chase into the desert leading towards the B2 Highway the driver stopped the vehicle and three suspects jumped out and ran off into the desert. “Although we searched we couldn’t find the three individuals, but they left the car behind. The key was in the ignition and it was even still idling,” Kashuupulwa continued. On the back of the bakkie the police found the remains of three poached Oryx carcasses, as well as various knives, saws and even a silencer. The gun used was not in the car anymore.
“We are now investigating where the meat was supposed to be delivered to. It seems like this incident forms part of a poaching ring at the coast,” Kashuupulwa said. The car has a Walvis Bay registration. The value of the meat is estimated at N$11 100. Namib times was reliably informed that the police is investigating two similar cases from the years 2013 and 2014 and that these cases are all connected.
Caption:
The police confiscated three poached Oryx carcasses on Wednesday evening after chasing the poachers into the desert. Sergeant Ileni Shapumba of the Namibian Police Force Community Policing Affairs Division and Deputy Commissioner Ottilie Kashuupulwa show off the meat valued at N$11 100. Photo by Erwin Leuschner