Indonesian national busted at JKIA with ivory worth Sh10m

Security officials at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) have arrested an Indonesian national suspected to be behind a syndicate trafficking wildlife trophy.

The national who was found in possession of 38.4 kilograms of ivory estimated to be worth Sh10 million.

A statement from the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) says the security team manning Terminal 1 C discovered the illicit cargo during their normal passenger screening and alerted the police stationed at the airport.

“A swift action by the Kenya airports police unit (KAPU) led to the suspect's arrest,” KAA said.

The seized ivory was impounded by a team of Kenya Wildlife Service as investigations continue.

Police will be seeking to establish where the wildlife products were obtained from and their destination.

Under the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act 2013, stiffer penalties are imposed on anyone found in possession of a game trophy.

It aims to improve the protection, conservation, sustainable use and management of the country’s wildlife resources.

Trophy is any protected animal, game animal, or game bird alive or dead, and any bone, claw, egg, feather, hair, hoof, skin, tooth or tusk.

The law states that any person who commits an offence in respect of an endangered or threatened species or in respect of any trophy of that endangered or threatened species shall be liable upon conviction to a fine of not less than Sh20 million or imprisonment for life or to both such fine and imprisonment.