In a major breakthrough for wildlife conservation efforts, the Special Wildlife Investigation Unit (SWIU) has successfully apprehended Amadou Bah, an internationally renowned trafficker of pangolin scales. This significant arrest comes after Bah had eluded capture since January 2024, following the seizure of 176 kilos of pangolin scales in Grand Gedah County, Liberia. The SWIU, mentored by Focused Conservation, is comprised of officers from the Liberia National Police, Liberia Forestry Development Authority, and Liberia Customs.
Dubbed “Operation Pear II,” the January raid by the SWIU uncovered a warehouse operated by Amadou Bah, leading to a substantial seizure of pangolin scales. This operation was part of an ongoing effort to dismantle a large-scale trafficking network, which had already been significantly impacted by a prior seizure of 369 kilos of pangolin scales. BAH had been arrested by the SWIU in June 2023 for possessing the 369 kilos of scales and were charged with multiple offenses, including hunting protected animals and criminal conspiracy. On September 1, 2023, Bah and his partner Folley Varney were fined by the 7th Circuit Court in Grand Gedeh County for their illegal possession of nine and a half bags of pangolin scales.
Despite the successful January operation, Bah managed to evade arrest after being tipped off about the planned raid, escaping just before SWIU officers arrived. Undeterred, the SWIU persisted in their pursuit, gathering intelligence and securing a Red Notice and arrest warrant through Interpol.
The breakthrough came when information suggested that Bah was traveling between the Ivory Coast and a small community in Liberia. The SWIU, in collaboration with Interpol, developed a strategic plan to locate and apprehend the fugitive.
On July 22, 2024, this plan came to fruition. SWIU operatives, supported by senior LNP management, successfully located and arrested Bah, who appeared to have the protection of the local community. Bah is now in custody, awaiting prosecution for his crimes.
The arrest of Amadou Bah marks a significant victory in the fight against wildlife trafficking and underscores the effectiveness of international cooperation and relentless determination. Focused Conservation applauds the professionalism and dedication of the SWIU, LNP, and Interpol in bringing this notorious trafficker to justice.
