Officers from the National Police Service (NPS) and Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) quashed a wildlife crime after coordinating a successful operation in Cheptais,Bungoma County leading to an arrest of two suspects on June 14, 2025, for illegally possessing elephant tusks.
According to a National Police Service statement, Cheptais Police Station officers, in collaboration with KWS officers from Kitale acted swiftly on intelligence to avert the crime in Bungoma.
“On 14 June 2025, police officers from Cheptais Police Station, in collaboration with Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) officers from Kitale, acted on intelligence and apprehended two suspects at Cheptais Kipsis Junction,” read part of the statement, “the suspects were intercepted while transporting two elephant tusks concealed in a blue sack on a motorcycle. They are currently in police custody, pending arraignment in court.”
Meanwhile the National police Service seized the opportunity to reaffirm its efforts in ensuring wildlife protection, “the National Police Service reaffirms its commitment to working with relevant agencies to protect Kenya’s wildlife and natural heritage.” said NPS.
Recently four traffickers among them, a Vietnamese, Kenyan and two Belgian nationals, were each fined Ksh 1 million (approximately USD $7,700) after they were convicted of illegally trafficking over 5,000 giant African harvester ants following their arrest by KWS officers las month. This further highlighted the government’s to clamp down on illegal wildlife trade, which continues to threaten Kenya’s biodiversity and protected species.
