Authorities in Cheptais, Bungoma County, have arrested two suspects found in possession of elephant tusks during a coordinated operation carried out by officers from the Cheptais Police Station and the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) based in Kitale.

In a statement issued on Sunday, June 15, the National Police Service (NPS) confirmed that the arrest followed an intelligence-led operation conducted the previous day, Saturday, June 14.

Acting on a tip-off, the team intercepted the suspects at Cheptais Kipsis junction. The two were ferrying the tusks hidden in a blue sack on a motorcycle when they were apprehended.

“On June 14, 2025, officers from Cheptais Police Station, working jointly with KWS officers from Kitale, responded to intelligence reports and arrested two individuals at Cheptais Kipsis junction,” read the NPS statement.

The suspects were taken into custody and are expected to be charged in court.

NPS reiterated its commitment to preserving Kenya’s wildlife, emphasizing the importance of multi-agency cooperation in tackling illegal trade in wildlife products.

“They were caught transporting two elephant tusks hidden in a blue sack on a motorcycle. The suspects are in custody as they await court proceedings. The National Police Service remains committed to working alongside partners to safeguard Kenya’s natural heritage,” the statement added.

A photo shared online showed the suspects, with their faces blurred for privacy, standing next to the recovered tusks and the motorcycle used in the illegal activity, outside Cheptais Police Station.

In 2013, Kenya implemented tough regulations aimed at curbing the trade in ivory and other prohibited wildlife products, in a bid to shield elephants and rhinos from rampant poaching.

Under the Kenya Wildlife Conservation and Management Act, offenders convicted of killing these iconic animals for their tusks or horns face a hefty fine of up to Sh20 million or life imprisonment.

The law recognizes the African elephant as an endangered species, citing poaching as a significant threat to its survival.

Kenya has been at the forefront of anti-poaching efforts, having banned game hunting in an attempt to stamp out the illegal wildlife trade.