One person has been arrested and elephant tusks weighing over 110 kilograms recovered in Laikipia County.
The suspect identified as Alfred Gathecha was apprehended after the vehicle he used to transport the tusks was impounded by police at the Sipili area in Kirima Sub-County.
According to a statement from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the 47-year-old, who was posing as a businessman, was cornered after detectives received a tip-off and lured the suspect into their trap.
“Posing as well-oiled businessmen who rule the underworld, the sleuths lured the suspect before tightening the noose around him, shortly before 1 pm yesterday,” the DCI said.
The suspect is to be arraigned in court to answer to charges of dealing in endangered wildlife species contrary to section 92(2) of the wildlife conservation and management act of 2013.
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.
Police urged the public to continue volunteering information regarding poaching of wildlife.
