Two Suspects Arrested with Leopard Skin in Sofala Province

On January 16, 2026, the Operational Investigation Section (SIO) of the Dondo District Criminal Investigation Service carried out an operation following previously collected intelligence. The operation was conducted in coordination with officers from ANAC, IP.

The action resulted in the arrest of two Mozambican nationals caught in the act on a public road in Savane Administrative Post, Dondo District, Sofala Province.

At the time of the arrest, the suspects were found in possession of a leopard skin (Panthera pardus), along with two mandibles, 28 teeth, and 10 claws from the same animal. The individuals were reportedly attempting to sell the wildlife products to a prospective buyer.

During questioning, the first suspect admitted ownership of the animal parts but denied killing the leopard, claiming instead that he had found the animal already weakened. He acknowledged that he engages in hunting activities targeting small animals.

The second suspect stated that the first individual is his friend and that, on an unspecified date, the leopard parts had been brought to his residence for safekeeping while the owner searched for a buyer.

The two suspects were taken into custody and transferred to the cells of the District Command of the PRM in Dondo for the crime of illegal possession of a protected wildlife specimen. The leopard skin, along with the mandibles, teeth, and claws, was seized as evidence for further legal proceedings.

This arrest sheds light on the continued demand for wildlife trophies and the networks that attempt to move protected animal parts from conservation areas into illegal markets. The case also demonstrates the importance of coordinated operations between investigative authorities and conservation agencies in combating wildlife crime.