KWS officers arrest policeman with Sh300,000 elephant tusks

A policeman has been arrested while transporting ivory valued at Sh300,000.

David Ongeri, who was until recently attached to the Mlolongo Police Station in Machakos County, was arrested alongside two civilians. The officer was moved to Cheptais Directorate of Criminal Investigations office recently.

The prosecution says Ongeri and his co-accused, Perpetual Mueke and Everlyne Kisese, were arrested on August 15 in Mlolongo town by Kenya Wildlife Service officers.

They were released on a Sh500,000 bond each and surety of a similar amount.

Ongeri and his colleagues are said to have arrested suspects with the ivory but he decided to hide them in his house.

The three are expected to be charged with possession and trafficking of ivory.

This is not the first time that a police officer has been found with ivory. Last year, an officer attached to Industrial Area Police Station in Nairobi was arrested as he and his accomplices transported rhino horns valued at Sh1.2 million.

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

Parliament has also passed strict anti-poaching laws and the State has beefed up security at parks.