Togo: Major Ivory Trader Is Arrested

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/08/world/africa/togo-major-ivory-trader-is-arrested.html

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A major ivory trafficker who activists say has fueled the slaughter of more than 10,000 elephants dating to the 1970s has been arrested in Togo, the country’s environment minister, Dede Ekoue, said Wednesday. The suspect, Emile N’Bouke, was found to have more than 1,500 pounds of ivory on Tuesday afternoon at his shop in Lomé, the capital, Mr. Ekoue said. Mr. N’Bouke, 58, known locally as the Boss because of his seniority in the country’s ivory trade, said he had been trading ivory since 1983 and had managed to obtain a “special permit.” But the environment minister said that was untrue and vowed that Togo would crack down on the ivory trade more aggressively.