Police in Kitale are holding three suspects who were nabbed with elephant tusks worth Kshs 4.8 million at a hotel in Kitale. Confirming the arrests, Trans Nzoia County police commander Frederick Ochieng said the three had placed the tusks in three bags all weighing 48 kg and were ready to sell them.
He said that police were tipped by the locals concerning the illegal poachers’ intention to sell the tusks to some traders. Police and KWS officials then posed as buyers who arrested the suspects. Elephant poaching in Trans Nzoia has been rampant with several incidences reported in the County, with other suspects arrested and charged in Court.
Commander Ochieng thanked the locals for having relayed vital information concerning poachers and attributed the successful arrest to community policing. He appealed to locals to continue relaying information to police officers about criminal activities within their areas of jurisdiction for immediate action to be taken.