In May 2025, a live Egyptian cobra concealed in a wooden box was recovered during a vehicle check on Kampala's Northern By-Pass and handed to wildlife authorities.
In May 2025, officers conducting a routine vehicle check on Kampala's Northern By-Pass recovered a live Egyptian cobra concealed inside a wooden box. The venomous snake, a species increasingly targeted by the exotic and traditional-use trades, was removed safely and handed to the Uganda Wildlife Authority.
Live-reptile smuggling carries real risks: to public safety, to the animals crammed into unsuitable containers, and to wild populations stripped for the trade. The interception on a busy city artery underlines how wildlife contraband moves through everyday traffic, and why alert, coordinated checks matter.
The recovery reflects the Task Force model at work on the ground, a police check backed by wildlife expertise, turning a chance stop into a rescue.