In January 2023, KWS arrested a police officer in Meru with 21 kg of ivory
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On August 12, 2023, a team of police and KWS officers stopped a vehicle in the Meru area found to contain 23 tusks weighing 79.6 kg.
Two men were arrested, police constable Harrison Gitonga Kanake and Hassan Galgalo.
It is reported that they were enroute taking the tusks to a buyer.
They have been arraigned in Meru court and have pled not guilty.
On January 28th, 2023, police officer Francis Muyambi M’Imaana was arrested and charged for possession and dealing in 22 kg of ivory in the Meru area.
Cop, Civilian Arrested with 79 Kilos of Elephant Tusks Valued at Sh12 million in Meru – KahawaTungu
by a Kahawa Tungu reporter
A police officer and a civilian were Sunday arrested as they transported 79 kilograms of elephant tusks in Meru.
The two; police constable Harrison Gitonga Kanake from Tutwa Police Station and a civilian by the name Hassan Galgalo were transporting the cargo valued at Sh12 million in a salon car when they were intercepted by a team of police and Kenya Wildlife Service personnel.
They were carrying 23 pieces of elephant tusks that had been hidden 80 granny bags, police said. Police said they also recovered a pair of handcuffs and one police baton.
The two were taking the cargo to a buyer to sell when they were intercepted. Police said they will be charged with the offense of being in Possession of Wildlife Trophies of Endangered Species
Contrary to Section 92(4) of the Wildlife Conservation Management Act 2013. Officials said the seizure shows up to ten elephants had been killed and there is a likelihood the incidents happened in the nearby Meru National Park.
This is despite stringent measures in place to address the menace of poaching in the country and region.
In July, two herders accused of illegally possessing elephant tusks were given stringent bond terms of Sh1 million each after being charged Mombasa.
They were accused of dealing in ivory and allegedly found with Sh2 million worth of elephant tusks by KWS detectives.
Officials say despite a ban on the international trade in ivory, African elephants are still being poached in large numbers.
