Three persons of interest have been arrested in Mbeere South, Embu County, after they were found in possession of six elephant tusks weighing 48 kilogrammes.
In a statement shared by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) on Thursday, May 29, 2025, the arrest was made by a joint team of detectives from Mbeere South and officers from the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS).
The individuals were intercepted at the Siakago-Kiritiri Junction while transporting the tusks in two gunny bags. Authorities believe the tusks were obtained illegally, a clear violation of Kenya’s wildlife protection laws. Elephants are classified as an endangered species, and trading in their trophies without a valid permit is a criminal offence.
“A joint team of law enforcement officers drawn from Mbeere South-based detectives and Kenya Wildlife Service officers has arrested three individuals and recovered six elephant tusks. The persons of interest were intercepted at the Siakago-Kiritiri Junction transporting the elephant tusks weighing 48 kilograms in two gunny bags, a blatant violation of wildlife protection laws,” the statement read in part.
DCI revealed that the three were presented before the Siakago Law Courts, where they were charged with dealing in and possessing wildlife trophies of an endangered species without a permit.
They have been remanded until June 11, 2025, pending the completion of a pre-bail report. Investigations are still ongoing as authorities work to establish the full extent of the trafficking network.
“The trio have been presented before the Siakago Law Courts where they were charged with dealing in and possessing wildlife trophies of an endangered species without a permit. The three have been remanded until June 11, 2025, pending a pre-bail report, as authorities continue with their investigations,” DCI added.
Combating ivory trafficking
This comes just a day after two more persons of interest were arrested in Meru Town in connection with ivory trafficking. According to a statement from the National Police Service (NPS), the duo was found with seven elephant tusks weighing approximately 14 kilograms on Njuri Ncheke Street, near PostBank.
The NPS emphasised that the operation is part of its continued collaboration with wildlife agencies to dismantle the illegal ivory trade and expressed gratitude to the public for supporting policing efforts.
“A multi-agency security team, comprising officers from the National Police Service and the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), arrested two suspects today on Njuri Ncheke Street, near PostBank in Meru Town. The suspects were found in possession of seven elephant tusks, weighing approximately 14 kilograms,” the statement read in part.
Adding;
“They are currently in custody and will be arraigned in court. The National Police Service reiterates its commitment to multi-agency cooperation and takes this opportunity to thank members of the public for their partnership in policing.”
Earlier in the year, on September 20, 2024, three individuals were arrested along the Garsen-Witu Road in Tana River County with 85.7 kilograms of ivory valued at approximately Ksh8.5 million. That operation, led by KWS and supported by the police, resulted in the suspects being handed over to law enforcement for further investigation.
In May 2024, two men were arrested in Mwingi with tusks worth Ksh8.9 million.
