Man in possession of 110Kg of elephant tusks arrested in Laikipia

A man was on Wednesday arrested after he was found to be in possession of elephant tusks weighing over 110 kilograms in Laikipia County.

The suspect identified as Alfred Gathecha was apprehended after the vehicle he used to transport the tusks was impounded by police at the Sipili area in Kirima Sub-County.

The 47-year-old, who was posing as a businessman, was cornered after detectives received a tip-off and lured the suspect into their trap.

“Posing as well-oiled businessmen who rule the underworld, the sleuths lured the suspect before tightening the noose around him, shortly before 1 pm yesterday,” read a statement from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations.

The suspect is to be arraigned in court to answer to charges of dealing in endangered wildlife species contrary to section 92(2) of the wildlife conservation and management act of 2013.

Elephant tusks are extremely valuable on the black market due to the continued growth of market demand for ivory in the East, particularly in Africa.