By MN Reporter

One suspected elephant tusk trader was yesterday arrested and the trophies recovered.

Kuria West OCPD Cleti Kimaiyo said police in collaboration with Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) personnel arrested the suspect at Mutemurabu along the Kenya/Tanzania border.

The 48 year-old was arrested for being in possession of six pieces of elephant tusks weighing 42.2 kilograms with a street value of Sh4 million.

“The KWS personnel’s together with police officers from Isebania police station who were acting on a tip off from a member of the public managed to arrest the suspect while he was trying to smuggle the trophy into the country from the neighboring country of Tanzania through a porous border at Mutemurabu,” said Kimaiyo.    

Kimaiyo said police have launched investigations and the suspect is detained at Isebania police cells waiting to be arraigned in court.

“The exhibits are kept in a safe place waiting for analysis from the National Museums,” Kimaiyo said