65 held in crackdown on African wildlife crime
Source: Agencies |
December 1, 2009, Tuesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
KENYA has seized 1,100 kilograms of ivory and arrested 65 people in the past three months in a major operation across six African nations, its director of wildlife said yesterday.
Julius Kipng'etich of the Kenya Wildlife Service said the seizures and arrests were carried out in an international operation aimed at tackling wildlife crime in Africa.
"Kenya's elephant population, like those of other African countries, continues to suffer from intensified poaching to supply increasing amounts of ivory to international markets," he said.
The rising complexity of wildlife crime required a sophisticated law enforcement response, he said, adding that the operation involved the wildlife service and Interpol operating across Kenya, Burundi, Ethiopia, Uganda, Rwanda and Tanzania.
Six of those arrested were foreign nationals. Firearms, ammunition, vehicles, big-cat skins and other illegal wildlife products were also seized.
Almost half the ivory confiscated in Kenya was seized at Nairobi's main airport.
Authorities believe huge quantities were destined for markets in the Far East.
Julius Kipng'etich of the Kenya Wildlife Service said the seizures and arrests were carried out in an international operation aimed at tackling wildlife crime in Africa.
"Kenya's elephant population, like those of other African countries, continues to suffer from intensified poaching to supply increasing amounts of ivory to international markets," he said.
The rising complexity of wildlife crime required a sophisticated law enforcement response, he said, adding that the operation involved the wildlife service and Interpol operating across Kenya, Burundi, Ethiopia, Uganda, Rwanda and Tanzania.
Six of those arrested were foreign nationals. Firearms, ammunition, vehicles, big-cat skins and other illegal wildlife products were also seized.
Almost half the ivory confiscated in Kenya was seized at Nairobi's main airport.
Authorities believe huge quantities were destined for markets in the Far East.
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