Policeman among three arrested while trafficking rhino horns worth Sh1.2m

Nairobi, Kenya: A policeman and two civilians have been arrested while transporting rhino horns valued at Sh1.2 million.

The police officer, attached to Industrial Area Police Station in Nairobi, was arrested as he and his accomplices transported the horns in South B area, Nairobi.

Police say he caused drama when he was stopped by Kenya Wildlife Service rangers by threatening to shoot the officials but was later subdued.  

The officials seemed to have been tipped off.

They were later taken into custody for interrogation at the Langata Police Station after the Monday morning drama and police say the suspects are expected in court Tuesday to face charges of poaching and trafficking the horns.

It is not clear they got the horns.

Poaching in the region is on the rise as armed criminal gangs kill elephants for tusks and rhinos for horns, which are usually shipped to Asia.

As part of efforts to stop the crime, Kenya has started using high-tech surveillance equipment including drones to track poaching gangs and keep tabs on elephants and rhinos.

Parliament has also passed strict anti- poaching laws and the government has beefed up security at parks to stop poaching, which threatens the vital tourism industry.

Regionally, Kenya has also emerged as a major transit route for ivory destined for Asian markets from eastern and central Africa.

The illegal ivory trade is mostly fuelled by demand in Asia and the Middle East, where elephant tusks and rhinoceros horns are used to make ornaments and traditional medicines.