Three Arrested with Elephant Tusks Worth Sh6 Million in Meru
Three suspected poachers were arrested over the weekend in Nkubu, Meru County, while transporting two pieces of elephant tusks weighing approximately 60 kilograms. Authorities estimate the ivory to be worth Sh6 million on the black market.
The suspects were apprehended during a joint operation by police and Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) officials in the Kigene area of Nkubu Township. The tusks were hidden in a sack inside a salon car.
The sting operation was conducted on the night of April 11, 2025, and authorities have confirmed that more suspects are being pursued as investigations continue. Police believe the tusks may have originated from Meru National Park, where an elephant is suspected to have been killed.
The three individuals are expected to be charged in court with Possession of Wildlife Trophies of Endangered Species, contrary to Section 92(4) of the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act, 2013.
Despite Kenya’s ongoing crackdown on wildlife crime, incidents like this highlight the persistence of illegal ivory trade, fueled by a lucrative black market and rising demand in Asia and the Middle East. Elephant tusks are often used to produce ornaments and traditional medicines in these regions.
The international trade in ivory remains banned, yet African elephants continue to face significant poaching threats. Kenya has ramped up anti-poaching efforts, including the deployment of high-tech surveillance tools such as drones to monitor wildlife and apprehend offenders.
Kenya Wildlife Service, in collaboration with stakeholders, has implemented a range of counter-poaching strategies. These include intensive intelligence-led operations, community education, and strengthened interagency cooperation.
Such measures have yielded positive outcomes, including the milestone achievement of zero rhino poaching in Kenya in 2020 — a first in nearly two decades.
In a symbolic move against poaching, Kenya burned 105 tons of elephant ivory and 1.35 tons of rhino horn on April 30, 2016. The event was led by former President Uhuru Kenyatta and attended by global conservationists, signaling Kenya’s unwavering stance against the ivory trade.
Kenya’s Parliament has also enacted strict anti-poaching laws, and the government continues to enhance security in its national parks to protect wildlife and safeguard the tourism sector — a key pillar of the national economy.
Regionally, Kenya remains a critical transit hub for ivory trafficking, with illegal shipments often originating from eastern and central Africa en route to Asian markets.
Authorities urge the public to report any suspicious activities related to wildlife crime as part of the collective effort to preserve the nation’s biodiversity.
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Three Arrested with Elephant Tusks Worth Sh6 Million in Meru