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Police net I31 pieces of ivory at a City garage


Police in Nairobi on Thursday impounded 131 pieces of ivory at a garage near T-Mall area along Lang’ata road.

The tusks were found hidden inside a water bowser parked at the garage.

According to Dr Richard Lesiyampe, Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, the security officers acted after a tip from the public.

“All government security agencies were involved after the tip off and the operation was launched and tusks recovered,” said Mr Lesiyampe.

Six suspects were arrested in connection with the seizure, with two said to have been previously involved in another poaching offence.

“Earlier on the two, a Kenyan and a Guinean who were among those arrested today, had been arrested and the Kenyan was bailed out. It seems he took the bail opportunity to plan this offence,” said Mr Lesiyampe.

The tusks were bearing a mark GRA and police have since launched an investigation to determine where they were being taken.

Among the 131 tusks netted was one piece that weighed 50kg, while the rest weighed between 5kgs to 50 kgs.

Police are holding the water bowser at the Nairobi Area. It will be towed to the Traffic Headquarters pending investigations.