A multi-agency team led by the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) and officials from the Maralal Forest Station on Wednesday, March 12, intercepted a vehicle ferrying a consignment of rare sandalwood.
KFS, alongside officials from the Maralal Forest Station, intercepted the vehicle in the Lodokejek area, with the driver of the rogue vehicle fleeing the scene in the process.
According to reports, the officers, who were acting on a tip-off from members of the public, apprehended a Toyota van and, upon inspection, discovered the highly endangered sandalwood.
The intercepted vehicle has since been taken to the Maralal Police Station, where it will be held as police continue to build a case.
A manhunt has also been launched to trace the missing driver, with authorities keen to establish the source of the illegal consignment, which was burnt to ensure it does not re-enter illegal trade networks.
Sandalwood is an extremely precious species in East Africa, particularly due to its dwindling population. In 2007, under the 2005 Forest Act, the East African Sandalwood (Osyris lanceolata) was classified as a protected tree species under the 2005 Forest Act. This effectively made the trade of the precious tree illegal without government authorisation.
Over the years, the exploitation of sandalwood has sparked concerns that it will go extinct, particularly in Kenya.
This prompted the government to completely outlaw harvesting of the tree in 2022 by former President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Despite the government's intervention, rogue traders of the precious tree have continued to thrive, especially because sandalwood is a crucial raw material for the production of perfumes and traditional medicine, thanks to the tree's aromatic oils.
Under Kenya’s Forest Conservation and Management Act, 2016, individuals found illegally harvesting or dealing in the sandalwood trade could face fines of up to Ksh1 million or a 10-year jail term.
The act also gave the KFS powers to arrest and prosecute illegal loggers and poachers, designate protected tree species, and ban their harvesting.
Notably, the dwindling population of sandalwood has a direct impact on the forest ecosystems, with climate experts saying continued destruction of the tree can potentially lead to desertification.
