US says two Congolese admit smuggling ivory
They are accused of collaborating with a middleman to smuggle three containers of pieces-cut ivory tusks disguised as wood.
Boakyewaa Lawrencia 
According to the US Department of Justice, two Congolese nationals who were detained and charged with trafficking pangolin scales, rhino horn, and ivory last year in the US have admitted guilt.
In November of last year, Herdade Lokua, 34, and Jospin Mujangi, 32, were charged with 11 charges of trafficking wildlife from the Democratic Republic of the Congo to Seattle in the United States.
The Justice Department released a statement saying that "in pleading guilty, both defendants admitted that they conspired to transport elephant ivory, white rhinoceros horn, and pangolin scales to the United States commencing in November 2019."
They are accused of collaborating with a middleman to smuggle three containers of pieces-cut ivory tusks disguised as wood.
A “similar scheme” was used to send rhino horn, the justice department added.
The sentencing is due on 1 November.
