Three suspects were arrested and 80 pieces of ivory weighing 249kgs and a rhino horn weighing 1.5 kgs recovered in Kiirua area Ntugi village in Meru County yesterday, 7 January 2011, by Kenya Wildlife Service security personnel with assistance from the Kenya Police.

Two of the suspects were arrested at Kiirua market enroute to Meru aboard a saloon car, while the other was arrested this morning at his home in Ntugi village where part of the consignment, including derivatives of the endangered Mountain Bongo, the colobus monkey and game meat, was found buried in his compound. Also found were night vision equipment, rifle scopes, a digital weighing balance, poisoned arrows, bows and ammunitions among other paraphernalia that aid poaching.

Prospects for more arrests and trophy recoveries are high following an ongoing investigation. The KWS canine unit has been deployed to reinforce the operation.

One of the suspects is a notorious ivory dealer with a pending court case in Kibera law courts in relation to similar offences of illegal ivory trafficking and trade.

According to the investigations, most of the trophies impounded originate from poaching in various areas of Samburu, Isiolo, Laikipia and Mt. Kenya.

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