Samburu police intercept lorry carrying sandalwood
A consignment of sandalwood trees intercepted by Police in Samburu on November 4, 2016. PHOTO | GODFREY OUNDOH | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Suspects had disguised 12-tonne consignment as animal manure, having covered it with cow dung.
- Police had intercepted vehicle along Ngilai-Wamba road in Samburu East.
They were taken to court in Maralal’s town centre and lorry was put in police custody.
Police in Samburu on Friday intercepted a lorry ferrying a consignment of sandalwood trees valued at Sh12 million and arrested three suspects.
The suspects – Kennedy Macharia Mwangi, Christopher Mutama and Bernard Muriuki – had disguised the consignment, which weighed 12 tonnes, as animal manure, having covered it with cow dung.
The police had intercepted their vehicle along the Ngilai-Wamba road in Samburu East.
They were taken to court in Maralal’s town centre and the lorry was put in police custody.
Samuel Muthama, the Officer Commanding Police Division for Samburu East, said cases of illegal trade in sandalwood had been on the rise.
He called on the Kenya Forest Service and conservancy rangers to intensify patrols in the area.
Mr Muthama cautioned local residents against cutting down endangered species of trees
"I am calling on our people to stop cutting down trees because this is depleting our environment and causing drought in the region," he said.
