In October 2019, the agents of the Ogoué-Ivindo research branch were informed that an individual was holding the ivory trophies he wished to sell, for this purpose an investigation was opened and led to the arrest of Moukambi François, found in possession of four pieces of ivory weighing 19.3 kg. During his interrogation Moukambi declared that he is not the owner of the products; that he was approached by Pilima who informed him that possessed one tusk and later on that he wanted Moukambi to help him sell the tusk to Chinese individuals. Pilima recognized to have handed the tusks to Moukambi for sale and use the products of the sale to treat himself. The tusks belonged to Backo Mohamed who on his turn declared to have collected the trophies on a dead elephant in the forest and that he is unemployed and a father of five kids. He handed the tusks to Pilima for sale. Judicial investigations were subsequently opened in the case.