WAMBA, Kenya — A motorcyclist was arrested on Saturday evening while transporting nearly 40 kilograms of elephant tusks, valued at approximately Sh4 million, police said.
Authorities stated that the suspect told investigators he was en route to deliver the ivory to a potential buyer when he was intercepted.
He is currently in custody ahead of a planned court arraignment, while police continue to investigate the origin of the tusks.
The seizure is part of ongoing efforts by the Kenya Police Service and Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) to combat the illegal trafficking of elephant and rhino trophies.
In a separate incident on December 24, Tanzanian nationals were apprehended in Migori Town with 16 kilograms of elephant tusks, worth Sh2.1 million, at Bande Centre in the Masara area. They reportedly claimed to have a buyer for the tusks.
Similarly, in Othaya, Nyeri County, three suspects were arrested with 18 kilograms of elephant tusks valued at Sh2.6 million while transporting them on a motorcycle.
All suspects are expected to be charged with possession of wildlife trophies from endangered species, contrary to Section 92(4) of the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act, 2013.
Kenya has recorded multiple high-profile seizures in recent months, reflecting intensifying efforts to tackle wildlife trafficking.
Despite the international ban on the ivory trade, demand in East Asia continues to drive poaching across Africa.
To combat the threat, authorities have deployed high-tech surveillance, including drones, and strengthened interagency collaboration and community awareness programs.
These efforts have yielded significant success, including zero rhino poaching reported in 2020, a first in nearly two decades.
Kenya remains a major transit hub for ivory originating from eastern and central Africa, destined for markets in Asia and the Middle East, where demand for ivory and rhino horn for ornaments and traditional medicines persists.
