Police in Mangochi have arrested two men, including a local pastor, for illegal possession of a live pangolin, a protected species under Malawi’s National Parks and Wildlife Act.
Mangochi police public relations officer Inspector Amina Tepani Daudi identified the suspects as Andrew Kombo, 33, a pastor at Malindi Faith Ministries Church, and James Wilson, 55, and were apprehended on July 10, 2025, at Ntagaluka Village, Traditional Authority Chowe.
According to Daudi, Detectives, acting on a community tip-off, found the pangolin concealed in a black laptop bag and arrested the suspects.
She said this marks the first recorded case of pangolin possession in Mangochi in 2025, compared to three cases involving three suspects during the same period last year.
“The Authorities attribute the decline in wildlife crimes to increased public awareness, improved intelligence gathering, and effective coordination among law enforcement and wildlife agencies” added Daudi.
Inspector Daudi said the suspects will face charges under Section 110(b) of the National Parks and Wildlife Act and are expected to appear in court once formal documentation is complete.
Daudi warning the general public against the illegal wildlife trade and urged the them to continue cooperating in protecting endangered species.
Pastor Kombo hails from Khuyu village, Traditional Authority Mkumba in Likoma while and Wilson comes from Mtiwule Village, Traditional Authority Makanjira in Mangochi.
