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KWS nabs 2 suspects, recovers ivory in eastern Kenya

Xinhua, April 28, 2017 Adjust font size:

Kenyan wildlife authorities on Friday arrested two suspected ivory dealers in an operation in Kitui County in eastern part of the country.

Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) said George Njeru Mutithi and Abdi Ibrahim Arow from northern Kenya were arrested in Tseikuru in an operation which saw 117 kilograms of ivory recovered.

"The operation which ran throughout the (Thursday) night, led to the recovery 117 kilograms of ivory with an estimated value of 120,000 U.S. dollars," KWS said in a statement released in Nairobi.

The wildlife agency said the two suspects are reported to have sourced the ivory from a herder from Garbatulla currently stationed at the Meru National Park.

The KWS intelligence believe that the ivory may have emanated from the same park as there was evidence that some of the ivory was still fresh.

"While Arow has been profiled for his role in sourcing and supplying ivory, the KWS believe that Njeru lost his eye while engaging in illegal poaching activities," KWS said.

The arrest of the two comes at a time when various agencies are investigating the March seizure of ivory weighing 117 kg in Hanoi, Vietnam.

The Hanoi seizure was later traced back to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi. Recent trends show that the far eastern countries continue to present a lucrative market for ivory and other wildlife trophies. Endit