Today, Thursday (21), the Maputo City Court will sentence the defendant Chabane Adamuge Assuba, accused of slaughtering at least 42 lions, 20 elephants and four rhinos, including young and adult animals, males and females.

The animals, according to the indictment in the case, tried by Judge Evandra Uamusse, correspond to the pieces of prohibited species found in the defendant's house, including 14 lion skulls; 128 bundles of lion tails; 88 lion claws; 57 kg of lion bones, spread over three bags; 55 pieces of ivory spikes; 74 elephant bones; and 24 lion jaws.

The accused was arrested on December 5, 2022, in downtown Maputo, in possession of more than 9 kg of wildlife products (rhino horns), which he intended to sell to citizens of Asian origin. A search was then carried out at the defendant's home, located in the Infulene neighborhood, Machava administrative post, Maputo province, where 629.72 kg of prohibited species were seized.

According to the court, the defendant is charged with environmental crimes, which include crimes against wildlife and biodiversity, as well as money laundering.

Before his arrest, the accused, Chabane Assuba, was involved in selling seafood and smuggling vehicles. A Radio Mozambique says that, at the same time, the accused was a partner in a fictitious company called GB SERVICES, together with citizens identified by the names of Máquina Fernandes Niguilo and Lila Carlos Buramo Buramo.

Chabane Assuba also maintained relations with José Américo Maló Batsane, Sekou Sacko, a Senegalese national, Marcos Paulo, alias "Gogo", Ernesto Augusto Mathula, also known as "Nhanguen", who worked for Tiep Ta Quang, a Vietnamese national involved in the trafficking of protected animal species. Chabane acted as an intermediary between the latter and Paulo Zucula Júnior, as well as between Zucula Júnior and Simon Ernesto Valoi, alias "Navarra", both of whom were also involved in the illegal trade in rhinoceros horns and were arrested as part of the case.

Chabane has also established business relationships with Vietnamese and Chinese nationals who are involved in the illicit purchase and export of these species and their derivatives.