Police arrest US deputy ambassador to Malawi: Found ‘smuggling’ ivory
Malawi Police at Kamuzu International Airport in Lilongwe on Thursday arrested the deputy ambassador to Malawi for allegedly being found in possession of a piece of ivory.
Airport police confirmed the arrest Michael Gonzalez.
“He was indeed arrested after he was found with the piece of ivory but he was released shortly,” said a police officer.
Officials from his office confirmed the arrest but refused to give details.
He is the most senior person to be caught with ivory at Kamuzu International Airport.
The police have in the past arrested Chinese and people of other nationalities.
The US is one of the major donors in Malawi.
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IF this is true, then he should be banned from ANY diplomatic post… ever… anywhere.
If this is false, then he should be publically exonerated.
Awaiting more details.
The power of Diplomatic immunity at play. Who authorised the search?, Anyway that’s how weak the Law is. Don’t blame it on him
This American is guilty of an ugly crime and his family should be all cursed in the US – he is trying to lobby his innocence after using diplomatic powers to evade prison which is sick – America is proven to be a hypocrite sycophant nation by this story for supporting their own ivory trade. May the family and children of Michael Gonzalez be riddled with cancers for their disgusting crimes, if I go to America I will at least as minimum shit on his ancestors graves. Let us all pray this American ivory smuggler and his ilk rot in… Read more »
The US government is in the forefront fighting smuggling of wildlife trophies, I cant imagine this idiot deputy Ambassador being caught with illegal ivory. I hope the US government will fire him and apologize to the government of Malawi. One wonders how long he has been doing this.
Does this reporter know anything about diplomatic immunity? The diplomat concerned cannot be arrested even if it’s true that he tried to smuggle ivory
diplomatic immunity does not give a wildlife smuggling green card and these diplomats are the filth of this planet
Koma akanakhala wakuda. Akanavuda ku ndende. Kodi anthu akuda mudzamva liti kuti mzungu ndi satana. Ntchito yake ndi kupha, anthu akuda, kuwonoga dziko ndi kumakunamizani kuti yesu kristu anali mzungu. Hii. Wake up I wish he rotted in jail. They don’t have the same standard for Africans if you do wrong in their dead resource countries.
Stupid customs maggots. You just want a 30 minute fame thats why you did this. Ivory is on sale in all kinds of public places in Malawi why not arresting those selling it?
Ivory being on sale is no excuse for US embassy staff to be smuggling it – the US embassy have been exposed by Malawi worldwide as being animal trafficking scum and you cannot protect them from being cursed by the good people of this planet
Zitayeni izi. Pick the right battles. We know that ain’t right but hey Malawi police zip it up. Lets focus on our albino genocide and stolen medicine from the hospital.
Wooow, if he can then it’s terrible, all that money in pounds abale, shame, on you colonialist. We need our animals, u started killing iur animals and export them long time ago, in 1800. Shame on you
Why has he been released? He should go to Chichiri on remand until trial is concluded.