SEEJ-AFRICA: Last four trafficking incidents involving police officers since May 2024. (allegedly):
- Hillary Cheruiyot Kipkurui and one other arrested with 10 pieces weighing 89 kg on May 12th, 2024.
- Cpl. Ben Kipkosgei Kiplangat, P.C. Richard Kipleting Kuto, P.C.Philip Lubanga Adembe and one other arrested on June 15th, 2024 ferrying 29 kg of ivory from the Uganda border area while armed with their service weapons. Two of the three were assigned to a specialty VIP protection unit.
- An unnamed police reservist and another male were arrested on June 19th, 2024, south of Eldoret ferrying 2 tusks weighing 14 kg while on a motorcycle.
- On June 30th, 2024, Omare Mungare Dismas, a police constable (attached to Utheri wa Lari police station in Naivasha area, and Otuke Denis Okinde were arrested with 20 pieces of elephant tusks weighing a total of 29 kg.
Nakuru police officer arrested with 10kg ivory
A 28-year-old police officer attached to Nakuru Central Police Station has been arrested by his colleagues while allegedly in the process of selling game trophies in Molo.
Ben Muiru Mwangi was arrested alongside Maina Gichura, 32, in possession of ten kilograms of ivory outside one of the banks where the transaction was to take place.
Speaking to the press, Molo Sub County Police Commander Timon Odingo said that they received information that the officer was transporting the ivory and set a trap for them.
“The suspects arrived at the scene riding on a motorcycle. Asked to identify themselves, the two declined while one attempted to open one of the loaded bags,” said Odingo.
The police swung into action arresting the two and recovered the ivory and a firearm inside the bags.
“We recovered five pieces of ivory inside one of the bags. In the other bag, we found a CZ Scorpion gun which was loaded with 30 rounds of ammunition,” said Odingo.
The SCPC said that their analysis of the firearm with serial number KPB431030 indicated that it belonged to the government.
“The firearm clearly belongs to the Kenya Police Service and we are yet to establish how it was issued out. We are also seeking to know where they obtained the ivory,” he said.
Separately, a robbery suspect was arrested in Molo town during an active robbery while in possession of an imitation firearm.
“We responded to a distress call from one of the supermarkets that a robbery was ongoing. We arrested one suspect Joseph Kuria with an imitation firearm,” said Odingo.
