Chinese makes Malawi headlines for the wrong reasons: Seized with ivory

A Chinese man, who attempted to smuggle ivory to China through Ethiopian Airways., has been arrested at  the Kamuzu International Airport (KIA) in Lilongwe.

Nan Zhuang, a 31-year-old Chinese national was intercepted at the airport

allegedly being in possession of ivory weighing 114 grammes and valued at MK159, 000.

KIA police spokesperson, Sgt. Sapulain Chitonde, said when quizzed about the prohibted  product, Zhuang  said he was given the bag by another Chinese national and did not check the contents.

“The bag was intercepted around noon at the Wrap and Go Machine in the passenger’s forward lounge when the police officer manning the spot physically searched the suspect’s bag, as a requirement before wrapping it,” Chitonde explained.

“The search revealed the attempted exportation of the said prohibited ivory and the suspect insisted that his colleague had betrayed him.”

Nan’s arrest comes barely a week after KIA Police successfully trained 22 new police officers in aviation securities.

Illegal possession and importation of of game trophy (ivory) is contrary to Section 86 and 98 (b) of the National Parks and Wildlife Act of 2004 as read with Section 111 of the same, which prohibits exportation of specimen of protected species, according to Chitonde.