Police Arrest 2 With Elephant Tusks Worth Ksh10 Million
Officers drawn from the National Police Service (NPS) and Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) have arrested two suspects and seized elephant tusks believed to be worth millions in Embu County.
The police in a statement, revealed that the tusks weigh 53kgs and have a market value of about Ksh10.6 million.
During the raid on September 22, the police managed to retrieve the three elephant tusks wrapped in sacks to conceal them.
“NPS and Kenya Wildlife Services Officers in Embu on September 22, 2023, arrested two suspects in possession of three pieces of elephant tusk weighing approximately 53Kgs with a market value of Ksh.10.6 million,” read police statement.
According to the police, the two suspects are set to be charged with possession or dealing with wildlife trophies.
It is illegal under Kenyan laws to move or possess tusks and horns from wild animals or any game trophies.
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“The suspects are in Police custody awaiting arraignment in Court for the offenses of dealing in and/or possession of Wildlife Trophy,” the police statement noted.
The Wildlife Conservation Management Act prohibits any person from keeping or being found in possession of a wildlife trophy or dealing in a wildlife trophy.
The law also forbids manufacturing any item from a trophy without a permit. The legal concept of possession was defined under section 4 of the Penal Code.4 M.
According to KWS, killing one elephant for its ivory has an impact on the whole herd. Poachers often target older females for their large tusks.
African elephants have declined over the years because of poaching for the illegal ivory trade.
International trade in tusks was banned in 1989. Consequently, elephant populations have begun to recover.
Police Arrest 2 With Elephant Tusks Worth Ksh10 Million
