Two Burundian nationals have been charged in a Mombasa court for possession and attempted sale of elephant tusks worth over Ksh12 million.
The pair was arraigned in court on Monday, August 4, a day after they were nabbed by Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) in Miritini, Mombasa County.
While appearing before Senior Resident Magistrate David Odhiambo, the two Burundians were accused of dealing in 27 pieces of elephant tusks without any legal documentation.
A day earlier, authorities confiscated ivory weighing 62.85 kilograms, whose value in the black market is estimated to be around Ksh12,570,000.
The court heard on Monday that at the time the duo were caught following a sting operation, they were actively sourcing buyers for the ivory.
According to the charge sheet, the suspects also faced accusations of possession of trophies from an endangered species without a permit.
The charges fell under Section (4) of the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act, 2013 (as amended), which outlines stiff penalties for offenders dealing in illicit wildlife trade.
Prosecutors also told the court that since the suspects had no legal documentation authorising them to be in possession of or trade in elephant tusks, they were found guilty on all counts.
Due to the cross-border nature of wildlife trafficking, prosecution sought strict bond conditions since the suspects were considered a flight risk.
Magistrate Odhiambo, in response, granted each of the accused a bond of Ksh4 million with one Kenyan surety.
The suspects were also ordered to surrender their passports to the court and produce two Kenyan contact persons as part of their bond terms in measures aimed to guarantee their continued presence within the court's jurisdiction.
Ivory trafficking is one of the most lucrative forms of environmental crime globally, driving poachers to target elephants in East and Central Africa due to the high profits involved.
The Wildlife Conservation and Management Act, under which the suspects have been charged prescribes hefty fines of up to Ksh20 million or life imprisonment for those found guilty of crimes involving endangered species.
The two Burundians' case is set for mention on August 20.
