Police arrest five people, recover ivory worth Sh5m in Samburu

Police in Laikipia west have arrested five poachers with 21 pieces of ivory weighing 54.7 kilograms.

The suspects were arrested at Mowarak area following a tip off from members of the public.

Laikipia west Deputy County Commissioner Benard Munywoki said that Kenya Wildlife Service officers laid a trap and arrested them as they planned to transport them to Nairobi.

He said three of them were from Samburu County where it is suspected the ivory had been transported from while the other two were aiding in the transportation.

“We received information from our intelligence that the three had brought the ivory and were to meet the two at a marked place at Mowarak area. That is when we laid a trap and arrested all of them as they engaged in a conversation on how to transport the ivory and the price,” he said.

Mr Munywoki said that the five were locked up at Rumuruti police station awaiting further investigations as to where the ivory had come from.

“We will definitely arraign them in court to face charges. The case is still with the police who are conducting further investigations,” he said.

The Deputy County Commissioner warned others who would be involving themselves in such vices that the law would catch up with them.

“This is a vice that we have been fighting as there has been an increase in deaths of elephants in the surrounding areas. We will not allow this to happen and that is why our officers are on the ground,” he noted.