2 arrested in Meru for possession of elephant tusks
Two people of interest have been arrested in Meru Town for being found in possession of elephant tusks.
In a statement shared by the National Police Service (NPS) on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, the arrests took place on Njuri Ncheke Street, near PostBank, where the two were found with seven elephant tusks weighing approximately 14 kilograms.
The individuals are set to be arraigned in court as police intensify efforts to trace the origin of the ivory and the network behind the trafficking.
The National Police Service said the operation is part of its ongoing collaboration with wildlife agencies to dismantle the illegal ivory trade, which continues to pose a significant threat to Kenya’s elephant population.
“A multi-agency security team, comprising officers from the National Police Service and the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), arrested two suspects today on Njuri Ncheke Street, near PostBank in Meru Town. The suspects were found in possession of seven elephant tusks, weighing approximately 14 kilograms,” the statement read in part.
Adding;
“They are currently in custody and will be arraigned in court. The National Police Service reiterates its commitment to multi-agency cooperation and takes this opportunity to thank members of the public for their partnership in policing.”
This arrest adds to a growing list of operations targeting ivory traffickers across the country.
On September 20, 2024, three individuals were arrested along the Garsen-Witu Road in Tana River County after they were found with 85.7 kilograms of ivory worth approximately Ksh8.5 million. The operation, led by KWS officers and supported by police, resulted in the suspects being handed over to law enforcement for further investigation.
Earlier in May 2024, two men were arrested in Mwingi with elephant tusks valued at Ksh8.9 million, highlighting the spread of the illegal trade even in remote regions.
That same month, law enforcement agencies carried out one of the most significant seizures in recent years. In a well-coordinated sting operation in Eastleigh, KWS officers posed as buyers and intercepted a shipment of ivory worth Ksh60 million. A police officer, who had reportedly accompanied the seller to the meeting point, was among those arrested.
