Man arrested with 3 pieces of elephant tusks in Kituiby Cyrus Ombati, Chief Crime Reporter, The StarPolice are holding a 60-year-old man after he was found in possession of three pieces…
SEEJ-AFRICA THUMBNAIL:On March 121th, 2023, a combined team of police and KWS rangers arrested four men with 15 tusk pieces weighing approximately 40 kg.Daniel Musembi Kimilu, Michael Kimeru Karanja, Charles…
by Brian Ocharo The Nation March 11th, 2023: The Jefwa brothers, who have been on Interpol’s “Red List” for involvement in ivory smuggling,and have been in exile for more than seven…
SEEJ-AFRICA THUMBNAIL: In a ceremony presided over by the Cabinet secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry Roselinda Soipan Tuya, and attended by the US Ambassador to…
The full story to date can be read at: Kenya court orders return of $13 million in seized rosewood to suspected traffickers Blundered Verdict by Kenyan Court Releases Mega Tonne…
Cop, civilian arrested selling Sh900,000 elephant tusk in Webuye by Cyrus Ombati, Chief Crime Report, The Star February 14th, 2023: A police officer and a civilian were Monday, February 13 arrested…
SEEJ-AFRICA THUMBNAIL:On the afternoon of February 11th, 2023, KWS officers received information of a man looking to sell 58 kg of ivory.An undercover KWS buyer came into contact with the…
It would have been a safe bet to wager. On January 18th, 2014, in Nampula, Mozambique, a 40-year-old Chinese national, Tang Tongjian (also known as Tang Yong Jian), boarded a…
SEEJ-AFRICA THUMBNAIL:On January 28th, 2023, police and KWS investigators arrested a Nairobi based police officer who was looking to sell 21 kg of ivory. The arrest was based on a tip-off.A…
SEEJ-AFRICA THUMBNAIL:On January 19th, 2023, six men were arrested in Gichugu area with 4.5 kg of ivory.They were found in a Prado vehicle while ferrying 2 tusks.The six were all…
SEEJ-AFRICA:On January 18th, 2023, intelligence from the Mara Elephant Project led to a joint operations arrest of one ivory poacher.KWS with Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA) arrested one man with…
SEEJ-AFRICA THUMBNAIL: On January 9, 2023, and based on intelligence from Big Life Foundation Kenya, KWS investigators and police arrested five men ferrying 32.9 kg of ivory on motorcycles. The…
Kenya's stockpile has increased by 3,085 ivory and rhino horn wildlife trophy pieces since the end of 2019 July 2018: KWS wardens displays the horns of the rhinos that died…
The ivory was seized in Mamboleo, on the outskirts of Kisumu. Kisumu is approximately 4 hours drive from the Tanzanian border crossing at Isibania and a 6 1/2 hour drive…
by Andrew Halliday, Shamini Jayanathan, Paula Kahumbu, Jim Karani, Mary Morrison AbstractThis article reviews the process and outcomes of 247 trials, involving 422 persons accused of possession and dealing in…
When Chief Inspector Samir Yunus appeared in the prisoner’s dock of Milimani court, Nairobi, on December 7th, 2022, many would suggest he looked nothing like a senior police officer of…
Besides the ivory, were 2 pieces of rhino horn, 65 lion teeth, 163 lion claws, and 2 small ivory sculptures. An electric saw was amongst other items also found on…
The arrest occurred in Bahati sub-county, just north of Nakuru. Woman arrested ferrying sandalwood worth Sh2 million By Mercy Koskei Nation Media October 4th, 2022: Police in Bahati, Nakuru County are holding a…
SEEJ-AFRICA: October 4th, 2022, KWS with intel from the Mara Elephant Project (MEP) arrested two men with 23 kg comprised of seven pieces of ivory. The two accused were transporting…
13.5 tonnes of sandalwood were seized from a police vehicle in Wamba, Samburu County, Kenya SEEJ-AFRICA THUMBNAIL:Samburu East Police Commander Juma Ombata and two other police officers were arrested on…
But who is the Centre Ring? September 19th, 2022: (virtual) This case was back in front of the Environment and Land Court of Mombasa and Justice L.L. Naikuni as a…
Two Tanzanians arrested with four elephant tusks in NarokWednesday, September 07, 2022 By Robert KiplagatNation Media Group Police in Narok South sub-county are holding two Tanzanian nationals found with four pieces of…
SEEJ-AFRICA THUMBNAIL:On Wednesday August 17th, and based on intelligence provided by Big Life Kenya, four men were arrested with 45 kg of ivory tusks.KWS and NPS arrested the men in…
A Review: Criminal Case No. 843/2017 Chief Magistrate's Court, Kwale, Republic vs Hasira Makoti Mwanzala Kwale Law Courts, Court #1 Kwale Law Courts are typical of many through out Kenya;…
A recent headline in the BBC news, “Climate change killing elephants, says Kenya”, would certainly have raised eyebrows internationally regarding the seriousness of the drought in Kenya. In a short…
July 1st, 2022: After spending 15 days in jail, 68 year old Italian national, Paolo Brondi, is a free man. On June 16th, 2022, at 07:30, Kenya customs authorities of…
SEEJ-AFRICA THUMBNAIL: KWS and police arrested two men on Monday in possession of a live pangolin. They were found in the Samburu area, approximately 70 km north west of Mombasa.…
Three nabbed with Sh200,000 elephant tusks Charles Wanyoro/Nation Media Group June 23rd, 2022: Police in Meru are holding three suspected poachers (unnamed) who were arrested while transporting two elephant tusks worth about…
It is a rarity for an ivory arrest to made at Moi International Airport, Mombasa. The last such recorded case was in November 2014 when two crewman from a docked…
SEEJ-AFRICA THUMBNAIL:Badru Abdul Aziz Saleh, who had been arrested on Monday May 30th, just kilometres from the Kenya/Somalia border, will not contest his extradition to New York.A one million dollar…
Like co-conspirator, Mansur Mohamed Surur, before him, Badru Abdul Aziz Saleh now appears destined for a jail in New York. The past Monday, May 30th, and reportedly just kilometres from…
SEEJ-AFRICA THUMBNAIL:On March 21st, 2022, police seized a Isuzu lorry containing 537 kg of sandalwood heading to the Busia border crossing.The sandalwood had been dispatched from Kitui town, south central…
May 9th, 2022: A Mombasa Court has this morning ordered the Kenyan Wildlife Service to procure the necessary documents and permits to enable 646 tonnes of Malagasy rosewood to be…
April 8th, 2022: The prosecutions case was concluded today when the last witness testified in an eight year old ivory seizure investigation. On March 28th, 2014, Singapore authorities verified a sea…
Turning back the calendar to 2012, I am sure that Dr. Julius Kipng'etich, then Director General of Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), would agree it was not one of his finest…
SEEJ-AFRICA THUMBNAIL:A joint police investigation culminated with the arrest on Friday (March 4th) with the arrest of a 40 yr old man found in possession of wildlife trophies.Bakari Barisa was…
The three had been charged for their role in exporting 1833 kg of elephant tusks through Mombasa Port in December 2012. In a March 2021 report, the Head of Kenya’s…
United for Wildlife Taskforce ALERT Updated 1 February 2022
The prosecution of Abdulrahman Mahmoud Sheikh and 8 others is examined against the back drop of Wildlife Justice Commission's "10 crime enabling factors". An Analysis by the Wildlife Justice Commission…
SEEJ-AFRICA THUMBNAIL:On January 31st, 2022, the Kenya Wildlife Service, based on intelligence from the Mara Elephant Project, arrested a man in the Olenguruone area of Man Forest.He was found with…
CITES says it illegal. An analysis. It does not happen often that a criminal network uses the legal system to retrieve its contraband investment. But that is exactly what occurred…
SEEJ-AFRICA THUMBNAIL:On January 28th, 2021, 2 men, aged 60 yrs and 70 yrs, were arrested by NPS and KWS with 14 pieces of ivory.The ivory was contained in a sack…
SEEJ-AFRICA THUMBNAIL: On the afternoon of Wednesday January 5th, KWS arrested four men in the Manga area of Voi with sandalwood and ivory. Kasungwa Mulu, Jacob Shangala, Solomon Mwaluma and…
Big Life Foundation, as stated in their quarterly reports, operates anti-poaching teams that "covers approximately 1.6 million acres across the Amboseli-Tsavo-Kilimanjaro (Greater Amboseli) ecosystem in East Africa." They also operate "collaborative…
In May 2014, Kenya Wildlife Service intelligence led to the seizure of 640 tonnes of illegal Madagascar Rosewood. After a protracted civil court battle in which the original seizure was,…
SEEJ-AFRICA: October 24th, 2021, KWS with intel from the Mara Elephant Project (MEP) arrested two men with 51 kg comprised of seven pieces of ivory. In November, KWS made another…
KWS Warden II Bajila Obed Kofa KWS Assistant Warden Francis Isaac Awour Oyaro Dear Director,It has been some time since my last letter, almost 2 1/2 years now since you…
Poachers Appeared in Nanyuki Court Charged with Dealing and Possession of Wildlife Trophies SEEJ-AFRICA THUMBNAIL: On the evening of October 6th, 2021, and acting on intelligence, KWS ambushed for men…
One KWS officer murdered and another 'abducted' 3 days and 95 kilometres apart SEEJ-AFRICA NOTE: The following account is a compilation of open sources on the disappearance of Kenya Wildlife Services…
Bajila Obed Kofa was responsible for Solio Conservancy security at the time of his murder. It is home to approximately 200 rhino's. KWS officer Bajila Obed Kofa SEEJ-AFRICA THUMBNAIL:On August…
Second ivory seizure in Kenya in the last 15 days over 100 kg. SEEJ-AFRICA THUMBNAIL:August 1st, 2021, a multi-agency team arrested four men in Kangari Town, Muranga County, an area…
SEEJ-AFRICA THUMBNAIL: The Mara Elephant Project (MEP) reports that on July 26th, 2021, its intelligence unit along with the Kenya Wildlife Service, arrested two men in the Mabera area, approximately 10…
SEEJ-AFRICA THUMBNAIL:On Sunday July 18th, 2021, four men were arrested in one of the largest meat markets in Nairobi, trying to sell what was allegedly 1500 kg of zebra meat.Acting…
SEEJ-AFRICA THUMBNAIL:Peter Muiruri of The Sunday Standard: "According to our investigations, however, wildlife crimes are among the hardest to prosecute, owing to the multiple layers of participants, with key actors…
SEEJ-AFRICA THUMBNAIL: On July 15th, 2021,the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) in Kajiado has recovered four pieces of elephant tusks hidden in a bush in Torosei area, Kajiado Central. The ivory,…
Five recent "kidnappings" in Central Kenya may confirm anonymous reports of poached rhinos in Kenya.SEEJ-AFRICA has failed to confirm anonymous reports that in recent weeks two rhinos have been poached…
A March 2021 report, “Kenya a Beacon in Fighting Transnational Wildlife Crime” painted a rosy picture of how Kenya’s fight against wildlife crime was progressing. In the article, the Head…
SEEJ-AFRICA:Residents are raising concerns over the establishment of a Kenya Defence Forces camp in Kalacha, claiming the camp interferes with the elephants’ migratory corridor contributing to further human-wildlife conflict.This report…
SEEJ-AFRICA THUMBNAIL:A multi-agency security team recovered a carbine, two magazines and bullets in Kalacha area. (see map)Marsabit county Police Commander (CPC) Martin Kibet said during a press briefing that local elders…
SEEJ-AFRICA THUMBNAIL:The recent ODPP 'new evidence' application lodged in a Mombasa court relating to the trial of Abdulrahman Mahmoud Sheikh @ Said Juma Said and others, continues to have public fallout.It…
SEEJ-AFRICA THUMBNAIL:Kenya State prosecutors (ODPP) have filed an application with the courts to allow new evidence in the ivory trafficking related trial of Abdulrahman Mahmoud Sheikh and eight others.The application…
SEEJ-AFRICA THUMBNAIL: May 20th, 2021: Area Chief Magistrate Alex Ithuku has set bail for 4 ivory poachers at Sh 1 Million each with a surety of similar amount. Joseph Kungu,…
SEEJ-AFRICA THUMBNAIL:On May 16th, 2021, police and rangers of the Kenya Wildlife Service arrested 3 men in Maralal town centre with 4 ivory tusks weighing approximately 15 kg.The names of…
SEEJ-AFRICA THUMBNAIL: On Friday afternoon, May 7th, 2021, a Ugandan military officer, Kennedy Wabwire, was arrested by police in possession of 3 elephant tusks weighing approximately 30 kg. Wabwire and…
PRESS RELEASE:Kenya on May 7, 2021 launched its first ever National Wildlife Census covering both land and Aquatic wildlife. The two month exercise is fully funded by the Government of Kenya…
SEEJ-AFRICA THUMBNAIL: KWS officers have arrested two suspects with 5 elephant tusks weighing 28 kg. The two were arrested in the Meru National Park area after a tip off from…
SEEJ-AFRICA THUMBNAIL: On or about April 28th, 2021, Kenya Wildlife Service and supporting agencies (including Tanzanian) arrested Kenyan, Papayo Ole Kesoi, in the Elerai area of Tsavo West NP. He…
SEEJ-AFRICA THUMBNAIL:April 18th, 2021, Kenya Wildlife Service officers arrested a Kwale County clerical officer with 12 ivory tusk pieces weighing 35 kg.Josphat Mtoi Kuri tried to sell to undercover KWS…
SEEJ-AFRICA THUMBNAIL:The High Court in Garsen quashed an ivory possession case from 2018.Issa Nabongo had been convicted at trial of being in possession of 2 tusks weighing 5 kg and…
SEEJ-AFRICA THUMBNAIL: On March 12, 2021, KWS rangers, Olderkesi rangers, and Mara Elephant Project combined to arrest 3 men for possession of a live pangolin. The three appeared before Narok…
SEEJ-AFRICA THUMBNAIL: On January 31st, 2021, a government official, police sergeant and one other were arrested in possession of seven tusks weighing 51 kg. Robinson Chelimo, Sgt. Charles Kandagor (Rift…
By Nelson Mboco For Citizen DigitalPublished on: January 20, 2021 07:42 (EAT) Two men were sentenced to five years imprisonment or a fine of Ksh. 1million each for being in possession of elephant…
SEEJ-AFRICA THUMBNAIL: On Thursday evening, January 14th, 2021 and acting on intelligence from the Mara Elephant Project, officers of KWS and NPS arrested one of two men on a motorcycle.…
SEEJ-AFRICA THUMBNAIL: On January 7th, 2021, a man described as a "notorious poacher" was arrested ferrying 200 kg of bush meat on a motorcycle on the Isara - Sultan Hamud…
SEEJ-AFRICA THUMBNAIL: On January 5th, 2021, KWS officers with support from the Mara Elephant Project arrested two men with 3 tusks weighing 30 kg. They were arrested in Narok West…
Stories/Reports/Updates From 2020 December 27th, 2020:6 Charged with 157 kg pangolin scalesDecember 18th, 2020 (44 kg):Detectives Disguised as Customers Arrest Busia Ivory SellerDecember 12th, 2020:Man Arrested with 54 kg ivory…
Six charged with possessing five boxes of pangolin scalesby Klaus Masika December 30th In Summary • They committed the offence on December 27 at around 01100 hours at a Total petrol station…
Suspected poacher loses attempt to block extradition to US By Joseph Wangui Court Reporter Nation Media Group December 19th, 2020 A 60-year-old Kenyan believed to be a poaching kingpin and…
40-year-old man arrested with elephant tusks worth Ksh.5.4M remanded 40-year-old man arrested with elephant tusks worth Ksh.5.4M remanded Border town, Gwitembe, Kenya; site of arrest By George Juma for Citizen…
SEEJ-AFRICA THUMBNAIL: On December 18th, 2020, Michael Ochokol was arrested in the border town of Busia with ivory in his home. DCI detectives and KWS rangers made the arrest and…
Alphonse Otieno and Kangai Alpham were transporting the ivory in a Toyota Noah vehicle when they were apprehended Two arrested with 10 pieces of ivory in Nanyuki town (Kenya) Official…
Two arrested in Marsabit County with 51 kg of Ivory and Two Arrested in Isiolo County with 7 kg. By Betty Njeru | December 3rd 2020 at 14:33:52 GMT +0300…
A Man Found Transporting Two Elephant Tusks Arraigned Before A Kabarnet Court By Benson Kelio/Joshua Kibet - Kenya News Agency A middle aged man from Keturwo in Barwesa Ward of…
Three Arrested with 48 kg of Ivory Written By: KNA, October 24, 2020 12:19, KBC News SNAPSHOT:Police and KWS arrested 3 men in Kitale town in possession of 48 kg…
Kenya Can Talk the Talk, but Can it Walk the Walk? On July 19, 1989, Kenya stood the world on its ear when it burned 12 tonnes of seized ivory…
Mansur Surur, 1 of 3 co-accused with Moazu Kromah, had absconded from Nairobi area court in June 2019. By Dzuya Walter For Citizen Digital Published on: September 30, 2020 12:16…
Swedish National, Abdikadir Mohamed Yusuf, and Kowsar Salah Ugas, were accused of dealing in 1.24 kg of rhino horn and other offences. By Joseph Ndunda September 29th, 2020 A Swedish national…
Accused Will Remain in Custody for Bail Ruling Application on Tuesday by CLAUSE MASIKA The Star 28 September 2020 - 16:38 In Summary •During their arrest, they were found with Sh2.1 million…
They were being tracked for the last three months. by GILBERT KOECH The Star 26 September 2020 - 16:49 Two suspects were on Saturday morning arrested at Nairobi’s Eastleigh area…
Accused found with 10 kg of ivory claimed he was running errands for an unidentified senior government officer. Monday, September 21, 2020 File | Nation Media Group by Stanley Ngotho SeeJ-AFRICA:…
Man in possession of processed ivory worth Sh10m held in Nairobi By Cyrus Ombati | September 20th 2020 at 11:13:35 GMT +0300 A man was at the weekend arrested with…
Multi-agency team, acting on intelligence, arrested the two, a Kenyan and a foreigner preparing to sell to a government official By Peterson Githaiga | September 13th 2020 at 09:21:21 GMT…
Kitale police seize elephant tusks worth Sh1.4m By Osinde Obare | September 10th 2020 at 01:57:04 GMT +0300 Police in Kitale have impounded elephant tusks weighing 14 kilos and arrested…
Four arrested with elephant tusks worth over Ksh.9 million in Kirinyaga By Johnson Muriithi For Citizen Digital Published on: September 4, 2020 11:26 (EAT) SEEJ-AFRICA: This story does not refer…
SEEJ-AFRICA THUMBNAIL: Corporal Henry Onsongo was sentenced this past Friday at Kibera Court (April 14th) to 3 years in jail for the Possession of Wildlife Trophy charge (600 gms) of…
Two Teachers Amongst Five Arrested with 18 kg of Ivory in Kajiado County by Wycliffe, Kahawa TunguAugust 8, 2020The five including a deputy headteacher at a local primary school identified…
Mansur Surur and how botched cases kept ivory cartels in business By JOHN KAMAU (Daily Nation) SeeJ-AFRICA: There are some inaccuracies relating to details on the Feisal court case. For…
Kenyan Police Arrest Fugitive Indicted in U.S. for Ivory, Rhino horn Trafficking MOMBASA (Reuters) - Kenyan police arrested a fugitive wanted in the United States on charges of trafficking ivory…
Police officer, two others found with elephant tusk arrested in Endebess (Mt. Elgon area) By GERALD BWISA Daily NationJuly 25th, 2020: A police officer and two other men have been…
SEEJ-AFRICA: Kenya Wildlife Service for charging purposes typically sets the value of ivory at ksh 100,000 ($1000) per kilo so this seizure is probably about 14 kilogrammes. The location of…
Tourism Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala with Dr John Waithaka during a happier time in 2018. PHOTO | FILE | NATION MEDIA GROUP 'Extreme interference by the ministry of wildlife and…
Three nabbed in Laikipia while trying to sell elephant tusks (Kenya) Police and Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) personnel in Laikipia County have arrested three men who were trying to sell 50…
SEEJ-AFRICA THUMBNAIL: On May 15th, 2020, in Central Kenya, KWS undercover officers arrested two men with 38.6 kg of ivory. The suspects were found with 3 tusks in a sack.…
SEEJ-AFRICA THUMBNAIL: On May 9th, 2020, Police and Kenya Wildlife Service officers arrested 3 men with 9 tusks weighing approximately 50 kg. The arrest was made in an area about…
SEEJ-AFRICA THUMBNAIL: On March 10, 2020, Daniel Karanja Muchemi, was convicted of being in possession of 84 kg of ivory in Narok court. He was sentenced by Chief Magistrate W.…
SEEJ-AFRICA THUMBNAIL: On July 12th, 2018, Joseph Wanjohi Muthee and his wife, Jane Wambui Wanjiru were arrested after a search in the Muthaiga area home yielded large quantities of alcohol,…
SEEJ-AFRICA THUMBNAIL: January 23rd, 2020, a Ugandan primary teacher was arrested near the border town of Busia, Kenya, with ivory. He was travelling on a motorcycle with a large sack…
SEEJ-AFRICA: January 2nd, 2020, Mara Elephant Project Intelligence team supporting the KWS and police, arrested 3 with 39 kg of ivory. The arrest was made in the Ntulele area off…
December 20, 2018The last year has not been kind to the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) or perhaps it is more appropriate to say that KWS has not been kind to…
Ahmed Mohamud Salah aka Ahmed Mahubub Gedi is the seventh accused in this case (1649/2017 Kibera). He was arrested 3-4 days after the initial six accused while trying to cross…
