Two individuals have been arrested in Bungoma County for allegedly trafficking elephant tusks, in a coordinated operation between local police and the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS).
According to a statement from the National Police Service (NPS), the suspects were intercepted at Cheptais Kipsis Junction while transporting two elephant tusks hidden in a blue sack on a motorcycle.
The operation, led by officers from Cheptais Police Station and KWS personnel from Kitale, was based on intelligence reports regarding illegal wildlife trafficking in the area.
The two suspects are currently in custody and are expected to be charged under Section 92(4) of the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act, 2013, which criminalizes the possession of wildlife trophies from endangered species.
Authorities have reiterated their commitment to protecting Kenya’s natural heritage, emphasizing the growing threat posed by illegal wildlife trade. Elephant tusks, in particular, remain a prime target due to high demand in black markets across Asia and the Middle East, where ivory is often used for ornamental and medicinal purposes.
This arrest is part of a broader crackdown on ivory trafficking in Kenya. In recent weeks:
On June 30, two suspects were apprehended in Meru County with seven pieces of ivory weighing 14 kilograms and valued at approximately 1.5 million Kenyan Shillings.
On May 28, KWS personnel in Embu County arrested three individuals transporting 48 kilograms of ivory hidden in gunny bags on a motorcycle. That haul was valued at over 4.8 million Kenyan Shillings.
Wildlife officials continue to urge the public to report suspicious activity and have praised ongoing collaboration between security forces and local communities in the fight against poaching and trafficking.