![\"HASSAN](\"http:\/\/www.nation.co.ke\/image\/view\/-\/1086004\/medRes\/227393\/-\/maxw\/600\/-\/8gmgrv\/-\/DnIsioloIvory0801hygv.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
HASSAN HUKA | Nation Kenya Wildlife Service officers inspect some of the 81 tusks recovered from a saloon car along the Isiolo-Meru highway on Friday night. <\/p>\n
By HASSAN HUKA<\/p>\n
Three suspected poachers have been arrested and 81 elephant tusks worth Sh2.5 million recovered by Kenya Wildlife Service officers following a crackdown on illegal wildlife trade. <\/p>\n
The suspects were found in possession of the trophies in their saloon car as they headed to Meru town after picking the consignment from a house in Nthugi village, along the Isiolo-Meru highway on Friday night. <\/p>\n
The officers had been tracking the traders for more than two months, according to a KWS intelligence officer who declined to be named as he was not authorised to speak to the press. <\/p>\n
They also recovered two rhino horns, 6 rounds of ammunition, two night-vision binoculars, two rangers\u2019 uniforms and a rifle scope. <\/p>\n
Tourism circuit<\/strong><\/p>\n The three who were caught are suspected to belong to a gang of poachers operating in the northern tourism circuit, which includes Mt Kenya Forest, and Isiolo, Meru and Laikipia districts.<\/p>\n According to KWS deputy district warden Maureen Musibu, 41 elephants in the circuit have been killed by poachers over the last several months.<\/p>\n \u201cWe lost 20 rhinos across the country but in this region (northern circuit), poachers killed nine over the past year, but we had a breakthrough yesterday and managed to recover the consignment,\u201c added Laikipia senior warden Aggrey Muamo, who was among the intelligence officers tracking the suspects.<\/p>\n Because of the huge haul impounded, the officers had to ask for assistance from wardens in the Aberdare and Meru national parks to cart the tusks away. <\/p>\n The suspects had state-of-the-art technology, including binoculars with powerful night-vision capabilities to enable hunting at night. They also had a rifle scope, which is mounted on a rifle to enable a hunter to aim at a target with precision.<\/p>\n Digital weighing machines and poisoned arrows, used to kill wildlife without alerting wardens on patrol or scaring away other animals, were also recovered from the car.<\/p>\n Heritage<\/strong><\/p>\n One of the suspects, believed to be the leader of the gang operating in the region, has a case pending before the Kibera law courts on charges of poaching, according to Buuri DO Michael Kibet.<\/p>\n \u201cWildlife is this country\u2019s heritage and the government will not allow a few individuals to reap from where they did not sow,\u201c Mr Kibet said.<\/p>\n The maximum sentence one can be given for killing endangered animals is a Sh40,000 fine or four years in jail.<\/p>\n Source: www.nation.co.ke\/News\/-\/1056\/1085880\/-\/11g080ez\/-\/<\/p>\n\n\n HASSAN HUKA | Nation Kenya Wildlife Service officers inspect some of the 81 tusks recovered from a saloon car along the Isiolo-Meru highway on Friday night. By HASSAN HUKA Three suspected poachers have been arrested and 81 elephant tusks worth Sh2.5 million recovered by Kenya Wildlife Service officers following a crackdown on illegal wildlife trade. … <\/p>\n