Kenya Seizes Elephant Tusks Worth Ksh14 Million, Arrests Two Suspects in Wildlife Trafficking Bust

Kenyan authorities arrested two suspects and seized 20 elephant tusks worth up to Ksh14 million in Namanga, Kajiado County, disrupting a regional wildlife trafficking network. A third suspect remains at large. The ivory, believed to come from at least five elephants and linked to a transnational cartel, was intended for buyers outside the region. Authorities called the operation a major step in combating wildlife crime and urged the public to report suspicious activity.

Kenyan authorities have arrested two suspects and seized elephant tusks valued at up to Ksh14 million in Namanga, Kajiado County, in an operation aimed at dismantling a regional wildlife trafficking network. The arrests followed intelligence that a major illegal ivory deal was about to take place in the border town, allowing a coordinated multi-agency team to intervene before the transaction could be completed.
The operation involved a collaborative effort between the National Police Service, the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), the Kajiado Investigation Team, and the Lusaka Agreement Task Force, all of whom acted on actionable intelligence to target the suspects. The arrested individuals are Imani Manasi Msumbwa, a Tanzanian national, and Alton Jilaoneka, a Kenyan, who were detained at Mufassa Hotel, a known hotspot in the area for illicit trade activity. A third suspect, Justin Mwalima, also a Tanzanian, managed to evade capture during the raid and is currently being sought by law enforcement authorities.
During the operation, officers recovered 20 pieces of elephant tusks weighing approximately 110 kilograms from a Tanzanian-registered Toyota Mark X. Additionally, a weighing machine, believed to have been used to measure ivory before sale, was seized from a second vehicle linked to the trafficking operation. Investigators believe the ivory came from at least five elephants and may have originated from Malawi. The haul is suspected to be part of a transnational ivory trafficking network that operates across multiple East African countries, moving illegally sourced wildlife products across borders to reach buyers outside the region.
Authorities explained that the suspects were likely attempting to sell the ivory internationally, but their plans were intercepted thanks to timely intelligence. The Kenya Wildlife Service described the seizure as a significant breakthrough in the fight against wildlife crime, emphasizing that such operations are crucial to disrupting organized networks that profit from illegal hunting and trade. KWS officials also urged members of the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity that could be linked to wildlife trafficking, underscoring the importance of community involvement in protecting endangered species and curbing illegal trade.
This operation demonstrates Kenya’s continued commitment to combating wildlife crime and protecting elephants, which remain a key target for traffickers due to the high value of ivory on the black market. The coordinated efforts between multiple agencies also highlight the importance of regional cooperation, intelligence sharing, and rapid response in tackling complex cross-border criminal networks that threaten wildlife populations across East Africa.