Kenya Wildlife Service officer in charge of Coast Simon Gitau inspects some of the 638 pieces of ivory impounded at the Port of Mombasa on transit to Indonesia January 16, 2013. GIDEON MAUNDU
Detectives believe they are closer to arresting the suspects behind the Sh100 million worth of ivory that was intercepted at the port of Mombasa last week.
The detectives declined to give any more information saying that would compromise the investigations. However, Mombasa port police district criminal investigations officer Kiberenge Seroney said the arrests and charging of the suspects in court could come as early as Tuesday.
“We are very close to getting the suspects. If all investigations go well we will have the suspects by tomorrow,” said Mr Seroney.
On Monday Mr Seroney led detectives in weighing the 638 pieces of elephant tusks that were impounded by KRA officials after a tip off from their head office.
The cargo was found to be weighing a massive 3.8 tonnes.
KRA regional coordinator Ms Fatuma Yusuf said all parties including companies that handled the consignment from the time in entered the port would be apprehended.
“We are looking at the entries and any other person who handled the container,” she said, alluding to a very wide syndicate that could be behind the smuggling of tusks at the port.
The pieces of ivory were stuffed in a 20 foot container that was destined for Indonesia aboard a vessel MV LalaBahadur.
Another shipment was also intercepted in Hong Kong after it evaded verification at the port a month ago.
The cargo was cleared as decoration stones by the clearing agent who used fake documents in getting the cargo inside the port, according to KRA officials.
Last week, Mrs Yusuf said that they have summoned a clearing agent called Three Ways Freighters for investigations.
The Treasury is set to release Sh200 million to KWS to intensify the war against poaching by recruiting 1,000 rangers and equipping them with modern gear.
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