Two arrested with Sh1 million elephant tusks in Lodwar

The men were carrying the tusks weighing about 9.8 kilograms when they were intercepted

In Summary
  • Police said they were on a motorcycle when they were stopped.

  • The motorcycle was detained at the local police station as the officials investigated the source of the ivory.

The elephant tusks recovered from two suspects in Lodwar, Turkana, on November 22, 2023
The elephant tusks recovered from two suspects in Lodwar, Turkana, on November 22, 2023
Image: HANDOUT

Two suspected poachers were on Tuesday arrested while trying to sell three pieces of elephant tusks valued at Sh1 million in Lodwar, Turkana.

The men were carrying the tusks weighing about 9.8 kilograms when they were intercepted by police and officers from the Kenya Wildlife Service.

Police said they were on a motorcycle when they were stopped.

The motorcycle was detained at the local police station as the officials investigated the source of the ivory.

Multi-agency teams have enhanced operations on crime in the country and beyond.

Police said they will be charged with the offence of being in Possession of Wildlife Trophies of Endangered Species Contrary to Section 92(4) of the Wildlife Conservation Management Act 2013.

Officials said the seizure shows an elephant was killed and they are investigating to know where the incident happened.

This is despite stringent measures in place to address the menace of poaching in the country and region.

There is an ongoing campaign to fight the menace in various regions.

In July 2023, two herders accused of illegally possessing elephant tusks were given stringent bond terms of Sh1 million each after being charged Mombasa.

They were accused of dealing in ivory and allegedly found with Sh2 million worth of elephant tusks by KWS detectives.

Elephant tusks fetch a fortune in the black market as a surge in demand for ivory in the East continues to fuel the illicit trade in elephant tusks, especially from Africa.

Officials say despite a ban on the international ivory trade, African elephants are still being poached in large numbers.

As part of efforts to stop the menace, Kenya has started using high-tech surveillance equipment, including drones, to track poachers and keep tabs on elephants and rhinos.

KWS and stakeholders have put in place mechanisms to eradicate all forms of wildlife crime, particularly poaching.

These mechanisms include enhanced community education, interagency collaboration, and intensive intelligence-led operations, among others.

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