A joint operation by officers from the National Police Service (NPS) and the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) has led to the arrest of two suspects and the recovery of six elephant tusks valued at approximately KSh 1.8 million in Migori County.
The operation, conducted in the Namba area of Suna East Sub-County, targeted individuals believed to be involved in the illegal wildlife trade. Officers intercepted a blue Bajaj motorcycle, leading to the discovery of a sack containing the trophies.
The tusks, weighing a total of 18.8 kilograms, were being transported by a 35-year-old female passenger. She was arrested alongside a 58-year-old male rider. Both were processed and placed in lawful custody, pending arraignment in court.
Authorities have intensified investigations into the case, which they say is a major breakthrough in the fight against poaching and the illicit ivory trade. A manhunt is underway for another suspect who managed to evade arrest during the sting operation.
Kenya’s Wildlife Conservation and Management Act prescribes heavy penalties for the possession of elephant ivory, a measure aimed at deterring poaching and protecting the country’s endangered wildlife.
Law enforcement agencies have urged the public to provide any information that could assist in apprehending the remaining suspect, warning that poaching not only threatens biodiversity but also undermines the country’s tourism sector.
