Two in custody after KSh11m ivory haul in Namanga; manhunt underway

Kenyan authorities say two suspects are in custody after an intelligence-led operation in Namanga recovered elephant tusks weighing about 110 kilograms, while a third suspect is being pursued after allegedly fleeing as officers moved in at a hotel where an ivory deal was suspected.

According to the account published by Kenyans, a multi-agency team drawn from the National Police Service (NPS) and Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) acted on intelligence that a major ivory transaction was about to occur in the border town. Officers reportedly went to a local hotel where suspects were believed to be meeting a potential buyer.

At the hotel, officers reportedly found two Tanzanian nationals in the company of a Kenyan citizen. The report says that when law enforcement identified themselves, one of the Tanzanian suspects escaped, triggering a manhunt, while the remaining two suspects were arrested and taken into custody for questioning.

Investigators say the arrested suspects later led officers to parked vehicles, where additional exhibits were recovered. The report states that a Toyota Mark X linked to one suspect contained 20 pieces of tusks, weighing about 110kg, concealed in the boot. In a second vehicle a Nissan Fairland officers reportedly recovered a weighing machine, which investigators treated as evidence of active trading.

The report says the tusks, vehicles and other exhibits were seized, and the suspects were taken to Namanga Police Station pending processing and arraignment.

Why the “manhunt” element matters in trafficking cases

Once a suspect flees at the point of interdiction, investigators often shift quickly from seizure-and-arrest to identifying support networks who arranged transport, storage, buyers and communications. International anti-wildlife crime forums have repeatedly emphasised integrated enforcement customs, police and environmental authorities working together because trafficking networks frequently operate across jurisdictions and supply chains.

The report links the Namanga case to a recent Kenyan prosecution involving thousands of queen ants an example KWS has used to argue that trafficking is expanding beyond iconic species to include lesser-known native biodiversity.

source: Kenyans co ke