SEEJ-AFRICA Synopsis:
On July 29th, 2023, police and KWS officers, acting on a tip from the public, engaged in an operation and in the process arrested 4 individuals in an area approximately 10 km from the Kenya/Uganda border. The four were found to be in possession of 10 pieces of elephant tusks in gunny bag, the contents weighing 28 kg. In 2022, law enforcement agencies made 2 ivory seizures in Busia; 27 kg in January 2022 and 5.5 kg of ivory in November 2022. Those matters are still before the courts
This matter is now in Busia law courts under court file E1239/23 and updates can be found here.
Police recover wildlife trophies worth Sh2.8 million
By Salome Alwanda Kenya News Agency
July 29th, 202: Police in Busia, in collaboration with Kenya Wildlife Service, have recovered 10 pieces of ivory with a street value of Sh2.8 million.
Speaking to the press in his office on Friday evening, Busia County Criminal Investigation Officer Benson Omondi said that the illegal items were recovered at Mundika area within Busia Sub County.
“Early today, we received a tip-off from members of the public that there were persons in possession of elephant tusks who were searching for a buyer, so we immediately organised a contingent of officers composed of CID team, officers from Busia police station and KWS, and laid an ambush within Mundika,” he said.
Omondi added that the officers also arrested four suspects who were carrying a gunny bag whose contents were later found to be 10 pieces of elephant tusks with a street value of Sh2.8 million.
He urged the local residents to desist from engaging in illegitimate trade, warning that they risked being arrested.
“We also urge members of the public to volunteer information, which we will use in confidence in order to secure our County,” he said.
At the same time, the official said there were three other cases in court of similar nature.
