NAIROBI, Aug 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Two Burundians have been charged by a Kenyan court with illegally possessing and trading in wildlife trophies as authorities intensify a crackdown on wildlife crimes.
The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) said Gakiza Sulemani and Nkunubumwe Celecius were charged with dealing in 27 pieces of elephant tusk, classified by law as trophies from an endangered species. The suspects also faced a second count of possessing wildlife trophies from an endangered species without a permit.
The suspects were arrested on Sunday in the coastal city of Mombasa with tusks weighing about 62.85kg and valued at Sh12.57 million (about $97,300). They were reportedly in the area seeking potential buyers for the illicit wildlife products.
“This prosecution highlights Kenya’s ongoing efforts to curb the illegal trade in wildlife products, particularly elephant ivory, which remains a major driver of poaching across the region,” the KWS said in a statement. — NNN-AGENCIES
