Police arrest man with 57kg ivory tusks in Kitui

Police officers in Mutomo, Kitui County, on Thursday arrested a suspected ivory trader with seven pieces of tusks with a Sh3.5 million street value.

John Muli Kavuva was caught in a police dragnet after undercover detectives, posing as interested buyers, approached him and offered to purchase the 57-kilogramme illegal cargo at the Ilamba trading centre.

Area police boss Kingsford Nyaga told the Nation that the officers were acting on a tip-off from the public.

He said the suspect was being held at the Mutomo police cells as they conclude investigations into the man’s involvement in the illegal trade.

Mr Nyaga also said the seized tusks were taken to ivory experts to ascertain their authenticity.