Police in Mchinji have arrested two Zambian nationals for illegally being found with eight pieces of ivory.

Mchinji police spokesperson Kaitano Lubrino identified the two as 38-year-old John Phiri and 32-year-old Julius Daka who were arrested on Monday following a tip-off by well-wishers.

According to Lubrino, police acted on the tip that the two were using uncharted ways to enter Malawi from Zambia with the aim to find buyers.

“Following that, Malawi police officers teamed up with officials from parks and wildlife from Mozambique and Zambia then later managed to arrest the culprits,” said Lubrino.

They were arrested at Kaombe police roadblock in Mchinji with the ivory weighing 16.5 kilograms.

The eight pieces of the ivory was taken to Department of Malawi National Parks and Wildlife where after an analysis it was revealed that it was worth K13.4 million.

They are expected to answer charges of being found in possession of specimen of protected species contrary to section 86 (1) and dealing in government trophies contrary to Section 91(1) of Parks and Wildlife Act of 2017.