Ivory from Kenya Worth Sh570m Seized in Singapore

The haul from Kenya is worth an estimated Sh570 million.

The seizure was facilitated by an alert issued to the Singaporean authorities by KRA Customs Team on 28th April 2015.  

The alert pinpointed the two 20-foot containers containing ivory and other wildlife products based on a profile of shipments exported around the same time when the first illegal shipment of ivory was made.

In a statement by KRA Commissioner General J.K Njiraini, KRA identified and suspended the officer who handled the suspect shipment.  

According to Njiraini, the roles of other KRA port based staff are being evaluated and appropriate actions will be taken as the relevant details emerge.

DRIVER STILL AT LARGE

Further, the directors of the exporting company, the truck owner and the truck driver have been sought as part of the ongoing investigations. 

Njiraini says that so far, the truck owner has provided statements to the investigation team but the driver is still at large.

The directors of the exporting company have absconded but are being sought. 

This comes just days after a Vietnamese national was arrested at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) with rhino horns and lion teeth valued at Sh12 million. 

By Maureen Murimi