Police officers stationed in Molo, Nakuru County on Wednesday arrested two suspects among them their colleague found in possession of rhino ivory and a gun sneaked out of an armoury without clearance.
According to Molo Police Commander Timothy Odingo who spoke to journalists, the police officer in question arrested alongside a bodaboda rider works at Central Police Station in Nakuru County. The police boss however stated the police could not immediately establish how the officer got the permission to sneak the gun, a CZ EVO 3 Scorpion Rifle, out of the armoury without the knowledge of his superiors
Odingo said the police have initiated investigations to establish how this happened and the police officer's motives.
The police in Nakuru say they got wind of the information about the two suspects after a tip off from the public before they swung into action. Upon arrival at the area, the officers led by Molo police station Officer Commanding Station (OCS) confronted the duo who were riding on a motorcycle.
The two were also found to be in possession of two black bags with 30 bullets together with five elephant tusks.The tusks weighed approximately 10 kilograms with its street value yet to be ascertained.
“Investigations are ongoing and we want to establish where and how they got the ivory and where they are going to sell them,” the commander said.
Initial investigations, police say, reveal that the suspects were from Nakuru and were in the process of delivering them to a buyer in Molo.
The police commander revealed that the case will be handed over to the county Director of Criminal Investigation Department(DCIO) to facilitate investigations.
By the time of publishing this article, the suspects were in police custody pending a further probe into the matter and before being arraigned in court.
“The exhibits are kept awaiting further police action,” the police handling the matter told the media.
The police said that they were seeking to establish the intended market destination for the ivory together and the estimated market value.
Rhinos are among endangered wildlife species in Kenya due to poaching which has threatened their existence. The Wildlife Act prohibits ivory trade.
There have been many reported instances in the past of robbery incidents involving police officers from Nakuru county, incidents that seem to be a big worry to the National Police Service and intelligence agencies.
