A police officer and a civilian have been arrested while transporting 79 kilogrammes of elephant tusks in Meru.
The two- police constable Harrison Gitonga Kanake from Tutwa Police Station and a civilian by the name Hassan Galgalo were transporting the cargo valued at Sh12 million in a salon car when they were intercepted by a team of police and Kenya Wildlife Service personnel.
They were carrying 23 pieces of elephant tusks that had been hidden 80 gunny bags.
It is said that the two were taking the cargo to a buyer to sell when they were intercepted. They will be charged with the offence of being in Possession of Wildlife Trophies of Endangered Species Contrary to Section 92(4) of the Wildlife Conservation Management Act 2013.
Officials said that it is likely 10 elephants had been killed from the nearby Meru National Park based on the the number of tusks recovered from the two.
This is despite stringent measures in place to address the menace of poaching in the country and region.
In July, two herders accused of illegally possessing elephant tusks were given stringent bond terms of Sh1 million each after being charged Mombasa.
They were accused of dealing in ivory and allegedly found with Sh2 million worth of elephant tusks by KWS detectives.
