By staff writer
The Salala magisterial court in Maimu Bong County on September 11, remanded a 26-year old man, identified as Richard Tate, to the Gbarnga, Central Prison to await trial for allege trafficking and advertising young crocodiles.for sale.
Magistrate Maxwell G Karsor’s took the decision after the accused Tate failed to be represented by a lawyer as prescribed for by the 1986 Constitution.
has sent a 26 years old man Richard Tate to jail on September 11, 2023 for trafficking young crocodiles he had advertised for sale.
It can be recalled that on September 9, 2023, a joint Wildelife security team that compromise of the Liberia
Special Wildelife Investigation Unit (SWIU) supported by the Liberian
National Police, the Forestry Development Authority, Widelife
Crime Task Force and the Libassa Wildlife Sanctuary arrested Richard Tate in the Maimu village, Bong County.
Defendant Richard Tate, who is a resident of Police Academy Payresville community is allege to have been responsible for trafficking young crocodiles,
and has been advertising them for sale on an international scale.
Defendant Tate was also arrested in possession of five (5) young dwarf crocodiles that were later rescued by the joint security.
Dwarf Crocodiles are an internationally endangered species.
The Liberia Special Wildlife Investigation Unit works with its
partners including the Liberian National Police, Forestry
Development Authority, Wildlife Crime Taskforce, Liberia
Chimpanzee Rescue & Protection, Libassa Wildlife Sanctuary
and others to bring those responsible for Wildlife Trafficking
to Justice.
The SWIU allege that the hunting, buying selling, capturing, keeping as a pet
or eating of Protected Species is an offence for which
those responsible will be prosecuted.
The special wildlife investigation Unit joined term further that the SWIU is comprised of officers from LNP, FDA and LRA and work with other mandated authorities with in Liberia.
The special wildlife investigation Unit joined team also indicated that ” this arrest is forward to may others wildlife trafficking arrest and conviction secured by the SWIU including the – recent conviction of two individuals for Trafficking 369 kilos of pangolin scales.”
