Two arrested with rhino horns in Kenya's Mombasa

Kenyan police on Monday arrested two suspects and recovered rhino horns in the coastal city of Mombasa.

The two, Omar Hajji and Said Alfani Mwinyi, were found with wildlife trophies weighing 1,406 kg in the Mama Ngina area.

The Kenya Wildlife Service(KWS)'s lead investigator Gideon Kebati said the two would be charged for being in possession of rhino horns, contrary to the country's Wildlife Act.

"We suspect it's a wide cartel of professional poachers hired by ivory kingpins," Kebati said.

The horn samples have been taken to KWS laboratory for forensic analyzing to determine its origin.

Kebati said the authorities were also investigating if the proceeds from the wildlife trophies could be funding criminal and terrorism activities in the country.

According to the official, cases of poaching in Kenya's coastal region have dropped by almost 95 percent.

Speaking to Xinhua, Kebati attributed the drop to heightened measures and the arrest of two major ivory kingpins in 2014 and 2015.

"We have set up anti-poaching measures at our national parks and sanctuaries to ensure that the cases are reduced, we also appeal for more public support," he said.

A multi-agency team comprising Kenya's port authority KPA, Kennya Revenue Authority and police had also played a major role in preventing smuggling of ivory through the port, he added. Endit