A team of detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations based in Mombasa and Kenya Wildlife Service officers acting on intelligence reports have arrested two suspects with the consignment of elephants tusks which had been concealed in maize sacks.
Police suspect the three intended to smuggle the ivory into the international market where the demand for ivory is high.
NINE Elephant Tusks weighing about 9kilograms placed in a sack of maize were confiscated today by officers based at Mombasa. Two suspects;Mr.Ibrahim Samonali & Mr.Japhet Muguni Bakari arrested & in lawful custody. Trophies kept as Exhibits. Suspects to be arraigned in court soon. pic.twitter.com/gVeD2Ir6Tp
— DCI KENYA (@DCI_Kenya) May 16, 2019
The two suspects; Mr.Ibrahim Samonali and Mr.Japhet Muguni Bakari were arrested and put in lawful custody while the trophies were kept as Exhibits.
KWS lead investigators are expected to conduct a DNA analysis to determine the origin of the ivory.
The government continues to enhance its fight against poaching which has threatened both elephant and rhino populations in the country.
In 2016, Kenya set ablaze more than 100 tonnes of ivory in a move aimed at showing its commitment to saving Africa’s population of elephants.
Other than a source, Kenya is largely used as a transit hub for the ivory and other animal products by a gang which part of the transnational crime.
On October 27, last year, Vietnamese customs officials seized nearly one tonne of ivory hidden in a timber shipment from Kenya.
That was the third major illegal haul of precious tusks in less than a month from the country.
Suspects to be arraigned in court soon.