Kenya Airport Police Unit (KAPU) officers have arrested an Indonesian national in possession of ivory at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).
Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) in a statement on Monday, October 9 said the suspect was found carrying 38.4 kilograms of ivory estimated to be worth Ksh ten million.
“Kenyan authorities have thwarted a significant wildlife trafficking attempt at JKIA. An Indonesian national aboard flight KQ 571 was arrested for illegal possession of 38.4 kg of ivory valued at Kshs. 10M,” read the statement in part.
According to KAA, the security team raised an alarm after suspecting the Indonesian national during the mandatory screening process at JKIA's Terminal 1 C.
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“A vigilant KAA security team manning JKIA’s Terminal 1 C discovered the illicit cargo during mandatory passenger screening. Swift action by the KAPU led to the suspect's arrest, & the seized ivory was impounded by the KWS Kenya, dealing a blow to the illegal ivory trade,” KAA added.
The arrest comes barely a month after the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) detectives from the Anti-Narcotics unit arrested a Polish national in possession of heroin worth Ksh 3.2 million at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).
DCI in a statement said the suspected trafficker was arrested before boarding an Egyptian airline bound for Hungary.
“The suspect, Arkadiusz Stanislaw, 37, was arrested at JKIA's Terminal 1C moments before boarding a Hungary-bound Egyptian airline, following the seizure found stashed in his luggage,” DCI stated.
