The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) canine unit on Saturday, arrested a Yemen national identified as Al-Maamari Majed Mutahar Ali after finding him in possession of 26 rhino horns weighing 15 kilograms.
According to UWA, Ali was arrested at Entebbe International Airport at 3:10am during luggage check by UWA canine unit.
“The rhino horns were concealed in food items to disguise their identity but our highly trained dogs were able to detect them.” UWA said in a statement issued on Sunday.
Upon arrest, the suspect was handed over to aviation police and at the airport for further for further management of the case.
Following the development, UWA urged the public to desist from wildlife crimes.
The authority further noted that they will not give a blind eye to anyone involved in wildlife trafficking.
“We urge the public to desist from engaging in wildlife crimes. Over the last 25 years of UWA’s existence, the institution has built capacity to detect and appropriately engage those involved in wildlife crimes such as wildlife trafficking among others and ensure they face the law” UWA noted.