Three nabbed in Laikipia while trying to sell elephant tusks

Police and Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) personnel in Laikipia County have arrested three men who were trying to sell 50 kilograms of elephant tusks.

The three suspects, David Mwara, Peter Ndiritu and Taracisio Mukere were nabbed in Marina, Laikipa Central while trying to sell the game trophies to the officers.

Laikipia Central Sub-County Police Commander Isaac Ogembo said that three were transporting the consignment of nine pieces of the elephant tusks in a matatu.

'POTENTIAL BUYERS'

Detectives posing as potential buyers arrested the three on Saturday.

“We have the three, including the matatu driver, in our custody. They were arrested by our officers and those from KWS while trying to sell the elephant tusks with an estimated street value of Sh3.3 million,” said Mr Omarre.

The police boss said that his officers had been following leads which resulted to the arrests.

“We have been working closely with our colleagues from the Kenya Wildlife Service. We also thank members of the public for giving us crucial information leading to the arrest of the culprits,” added the police boss.

DETAINED

Mr Ogembo said that the three suspects are being detained at the Makutano Police Post and will be arraigned on Monday.

“We are currently preparing their files and the charge sheets and we are expecting to arraign them on Monday,” he revealed.

A KWS officer told the Nation that the ivories were not from freshly killed elephants.

“The detained tusks must be from the past poaching activities because they did not appear fresh,” said the officer.

Laikipia residents have been urged to work closely with police and KWS officers in the fight against poaching.