Woman Arrested Over Involvement in Illegal Pangolin Business in Mwanza
Published on July 9, 2025 at 10:45 AM by Evance Kapito
Police in Mwanza have arrested a 38-year-old woman, identified as Agnes Dyton, on suspicion of being involved in the illegal wildlife trade, specifically the attempted purchase of a pangolin, one of the world’s most trafficked and endangered animals.
According to Mwanza Police spokesperson Hope Kasakula, the suspect was linked to two men Martin Kachepa and Reuben Chimpesa who were previously arrested on June 10, 2025, for attempting to sell the pangolin. The two men were later sentenced to five years in prison by the Mwanza First Grade Magistrate Court.
Despite their conviction, police investigations continued, leading to the arrest of Dyton on July 6, 2025, after she was identified as the intended buyer in the transaction.
Court proceedings also revealed that the pangolin was still alive at the time of the attempted sale, but it later died while receiving care at a veterinary facility in Blantyre, due to poor handling and lack of proper care from the suspects.
The arrest highlights ongoing efforts by authorities to crack down on wildlife trafficking, which remains a serious offense under Malawi’s Wildlife Act. Police say more arrests may follow as the investigation continues.
