Five Arrested With Ivory, Leopard Skins in Kilifi

Confirming the incident, area police boss John Kilokwe said the suspects were also nabbed with leopard skins.

Kalokwe said the arrests were made following a tip off from members of public and they are now being held at Marereni police station for questioning noting that they will be arraigned in court once investigations are complete.

This comes a few days after customs officials in Thailand seized 3 tonnes of ivory worth $6 million hidden in tea leaves sacks in what is seen as the second-biggest bust in the country's history.

Customs Department Director-General Somchai Sujjapongse said the 511 elephant tusks were bound for Lagos but seized at a port in Chonburi province in eastern Thailand.

The ivory was shipped out of Kenya on March 24 and went through ports in Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Singapore before getting to Thailand.

By Tom Omulo