Ivory worth Sh6.4 million seized at JKIA

Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) officials and airport authorities guard a consignment of contraband elephant ivory intercepted at the Jomo Kenyatta airport in Kenya's capital Nairobi, July 25, 2014. Photo/REUTERS
Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) officials and airport authorities guard a consignment of contraband elephant ivory intercepted at the Jomo Kenyatta airport in Kenya's capital Nairobi, July 25, 2014. Photo/REUTERS

Ivory worth Sh 6.4 million was found at the JKIA on Tuesday in a consignment destined for Bangkok, Thailand, from Maputo in Mozambique.

"The ivory had been concealed as gemstones," said police officers in charge of screening at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi.

They said the 18 pieces of raw ivory were discovered at the screening centre prompting the seizure.

Airport head of DCI Joseph Ngisa said there were 22 stones in the cargo.

“The rest were just stones disguised as gemstones," said Ngisa.

He said no arrest has been made though authorities in Mozambique have been alerted and asked to pursue the case.

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