Kenya: Suspected Ivory Smugglers Remain in Police Custody

By Henry Neondo

 NAIROBI---Two suspected ivory smugglers arrested in connection with 345 pieces of ivory weighing 601 kg intercepted at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi, were on Tuesday held at the police station after they failed to raise a historic Sh30 million bond each.

John Mesilya Mule Mweu and Ngusu David James alias King David alias Bouncer were arraigned before Makadara Law Courts in Nairobi on Monday (July 2, 2012).

The suspects denied the charges and were to be released on a bond of Sh. 30 million each. However, they remained in police after they failed to raise the bond.

The two suspects will appear in court again for a mention of their case at the same court.

The hearing is set for September 17, 2012.

The ivory was intercepted by the KWS Canine Unit, Police and Customs officials while being smuggled to Lagos, Nigeria on Friday June 22, 2012.

At the same time, two more suspects were arrested  (Tueday, July 3, 2012) over the same ivory and will be arraigned before Makadara Law Courts in Nairobi Thursday. 

Investigations into the contraband are continuing while the noose is tightening on two other suspected kingpins behind the illegal trade in ivory.