Interior Ministry: Suspects apprehended for poaching in Sabah Al-Ahmad Nature Reserve, vehicle impounded

Competent authorities within the Ministry of Interior apprehended suspects who infiltrated the Sabah Al-Ahmad Nature Reserve in an unlicensed vehicle for the purpose of hunting.

The arrest operation, according to a Ministry of Interior statement, was carried out through cooperation between the General Directorate of Emergency Police and the General Directorate of Criminal Investigation, after reserve security personnel detected the suspects’ infiltration and notified the operations room. Subsequent search and investigative efforts led to their apprehension after they fled. It was determined that they had removed the vehicle’s license plates prior to infiltrating the reserve.

Following the arrest, Environmental Police issued violations against the suspects and referred them to the competent authority to take the necessary legal measures. The vehicle and hunting tools were confiscated, and the vehicle used in the incident was crushed.

The Ministry of Interior highlighted the legal penalties for individuals who infiltrate nature reserves, noting that Article 150 of the Environmental Protection Law stipulates: “Whoever violates the provisions of Article 105 of this Law shall be punished with imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year and a fine not less than 500 dinars and not more than 5,000 dinars, or with one of these two penalties.” Additionally, hunting tools and the vehicle used will be confiscated and crushed.

The Ministry of Interior warns against infiltrating nature reserves or entering restricted areas without a permit, emphasizing that such violations will not go unpunished. Security agencies will not tolerate offenders, and will relentlessly pursue, apprehend, and take strict legal action against them without exception.