Three arrested as 50kgs of elephant tusks recovered in Marigat
The police recovered 12 elephant tusks weighing approximately 50 kgs
26 June 2023
•Last week, three suspects were at the weekend arrested and 23 kilograms of elephant tusks recovered from them in Nyeri.
•The three were travelling in a salon car with the tusks valued at Sh4.6 million in Witemere area
The police on Sunday arrested three people suspected of being involved in poaching.
In collaboration with the Kenya Wildlife Service, the police recovered 12 elephant tusks weighing approximately 50 kgs.
“The trio will be arraigned before Kabarnet Law Court,” said National Police Service said in a statement.
Last week, three suspects were at the weekend arrested and 23 kilograms of elephant tusks recovered from them in Nyeri.
The three were travelling in a salon car with the tusks valued at Sh4.6 million in Witemere area when police and Kenya Wildlife Service officials intercepted the car on June 16, officials said.
After a search of the car, 12 pieces of the elephant tusks were recovered.
The three were taken to custody ahead of planned arraignment.
Officials say this is the latest such recovery amid campaigns to stop the trend.
Elephant tusks fetch a fortune in the black market as a surge in demand for ivory in the East continues to fuel the illicit trade in elephant tusks, especially from Africa.
Officials say despite a ban on the international trade in ivory, African elephants are still being poached in large numbers.
As part of efforts to stop the menace, Kenya has started using high-tech surveillance equipment, including drones, to track poachers and keep tabs on elephants and rhinos.
KWS and stakeholders have put in place mechanisms to eradicate all forms of wildlife crime, particularly poaching.
These mechanisms include enhanced community education, interagency collaboration, and intensive intelligence-led operations.
https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2023-06-26-three-arrested-as-50kgs-of-elephant-tusks-recovered-in-marigat/
Poachers slapped Sh1m bond each over 12 elephant tusks
By Gloria Cheboi and Joshua Kibet – Kenya News Agency
June 26th, 2023: Three poachers found in possession of twelve Elephant tusks without a permit were released on Monday on a Sh1 million bond with one surety of a similar amount each by a Kabarnet court.
Moses Tamar Buldoza, Philip Kipyator Kimosop, and Robert Chepkwony were charged with dealing in wildlife trophy of a specified endangered species without a permit or other lawful exemption contrary to Section 92 (2) and being in possession of a specified endangered wildlife trophy without a permit or other lawful exemption contrary to Section 92 (4) of the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act 2013.
The trio were charged that on June 25, 2023, at around 5 p.m. at Eldume village in Illchamus ward, Marigat sub county, within Baringo County, along with others not before court, they were caught dealing in wildlife trophies, namely twelve elephant tusks that were a trophy of an endangered species under Schedule Six, while also failing to have a permit or any other legitimate exemption given under this act.
When the charges leveled against the accused were read to them before Senior Resident Magistrate Edwin Mulochi, they all pleaded not guilty.
The court heard that the suspected poachers were intending to sell the elephant tusks within Eldume Sub Location before a multi-agency team of KWS personnel and a National Police Service team acting on a tip-off from members of the public apprehended them.
Prosecution Counsel Casmir Obiero, in his submission, prayed the court to deny the three accused cash bail owing to the nature of the offense.
In his ruling, the Senior Resident Magistrate ordered the three accused to be released on a personal bond of Sh1 million each with one surety.
Mulochi directed the case to be mentioned on July 5 and heard on July 19, where five witnesses are set to testify.
