A police vehicle /Photo courtesy/
Police in HomaBay arrested three people, including a Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) sergeant, after they were found in possession of a rhino horn valued at Sh2.9 million. According to the relevant authorities, the horn that the three had weighs 2.9 kilograms.
A multi-agency team was conducting an operation on New Year’s Eve in Rodi Market, and based on intelligence, some people were out to sell the trophy when they found it. The suspects were traveling in a black car at the time of the arrest, police said.
Homa Bay County Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI) commander Peter Kimulwo said the suspects were arrested Tuesday evening at a hotel in Rodi Kopany Trading Centre, on the outskirts of Homa Bay Town.
“The suspects were traveling in a black car during the time of arrest. On Tuesday evening, they were arrested at a hotel in Rodi Kopany Trading Center on the outskirts of Homa Bay Town,” Peter Kimulwo said.
During the arrest, police also recovered the private vehicle which the suspects used to transport the rhino horn. Investigators suspect the three got the rhino horn from Ruma National Park.
Kimulwo said his officers are still pursuing other suspects linked to a syndicate of poachers operating in Ruma National Park. Police announced they would face charges for possessing wildlife trophies from endangered species, violating Section 92(4) of the Wildlife Conservation Management Act 2013.
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