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Interpol operation scoops massive ivory haul in Kenya
Published in Saudi Press Agency on 30 - 11 - 2009


The latest phase of an INTERPOL-coordinated
operation across six African countries has led to the seizure of 568
kilogrammes of illegal ivory and 65 arrests, including three Chinese
nationals, dpa quoted the Kenya Wildlife Service as saying today.
Just under 1,800 kilograms of have been confiscated in total
during the operation, including two seizures of Bangkok-destined
ivory - both raw and carved - in Kenya and Ethiopia this September.
The latest phase of Africa"s largest operation against ivory
poachers - code-named Costa - saw investigations in Burundi,
Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda.
Local ivory markets, airports, border crossings and smuggling
points were targeted, also bringing in a haul of big cat skins and
other contraband, said KWS Director Julius Kipng"etich.
Three Chinese and three Tanzanians were amongst the 65 arrested.
The rest are Kenyan.
The ivory trade has been banned since 1989, but illegal sales have
thrived with demand being fuelled largely by the Far East.
"Kenya"s elephant population, like those of other African
countries, continues to suffer from intensified poaching to supply
increasing amounts of ivory to international markets," said Julius
Kipng"etich of the Kenya Wildlife Service.
"Recent significant seizures of many tons of raw ivory indicate
that much of this ivory is destined for markets in the Far East."
Kipng"etich said operations were still ongoing in the five
countries outside Kenya and that detailed results would be released
later.
Peter Younger, the head of INTERPOL"s support programme for
African anti-wildlife crime operations, which is funded by the German
government, said the operation was a major success and would lead to
further arrests internationally.
"Operation Costa will also enable law enforcement agencies, both
in Africa and further afield, to identify the routes being used by
smugglers, their connections and ultimately lead to the arrest of
other individuals involved in these crimes," he said.
The KWS says it believes a one-off sale of ivory in South Africa
last November, in which Japanese and Chinese traders took place, has
helped increase demand for ivory and thus poaching.
Kenya has lost over 200 elephants to poaching this year, an
increase from 98 last year and 47 in 2007.


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