This archive report was first published on 6 September 2019.
Published on September 6, 2019, five suspected poachers have been arrested in Tiaty Sub-County, Baringo, with 21 elephant tusks valued at Sh7.2 million.
The tusks, weighing 72kg, were found on motorcycles ridden by the suspects, who were stopped by Kenya Wildlife Service and police officers on patrol.
According to Baringo County Police Commander Robinson Ndhiwa, the suspects were arrested in Tiaty East, and their motorcycles were seized along with a weighing machine and a hacksaw.
“At around 4pm on Thursday, the five suspects were stopped by Kenya Wildlife Service and police officers on patrol. Upon inspection, they realised they were carrying seven pieces of ivory, a weighing machine and a hacksaw,” he said.
Police are working with KWS to trace the source and destination of the ivory, which is suspected to have originated from neighbouring Laikipia county or Uganda.
The 21 tusks translate to 11 elephants killed, and there were no reports of elephants killed in the neighbouring Rimoi and Kamnarok national reserves.
