KWS arrests 3 suspects over wildlife crimes

Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-08 21:49:41|Editor: xuxin
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NAIROBI, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) said Wednesday they are interrogating three suspects in connection with wildlife crimes after being arrested in separate incidents across the country.

Paul Udoto, KWS Corporate Communications Manager, said one suspect was arrested in Nakuru linked with a rhino which was killed on July 30 in Lake Nakuru National Park.

"A 3006 rifle and six pieces of curved ivory were recovered," said Udoto, who also expressed optimism that it was a matter of time before they caught up with the other suspects who had shot dead the rhino.

Meanwhile, Udoto said two Tanzanian men were arrested in Kilgoris in northwest Kenya near the Kenya-Tanzania border for illegally having five large cut pieces and a small piece of ivory, all weighing 40kg.

Rampant poaching incidents have forced KWS to embrace the use of modern technologies under its force modernization program to counter the problem and other poaching-related threats.

KWS says it has introduced the Canine Unit with sniffer dogs on a 24-hour basis at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi and Moi International Airport in Mombasa to detect movements of illegal ivory.

This, according to the wildlife agency, has effectively led to reduced smuggling of illegal trophies.

Stiffer penalties related to wildlife crime have been incorporated under the proposed wildlife law to deter poaching-related cases and incidents in Kenya.

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