By Kennedy Okombo

A primary school teacher from Gwitembe village in Kuria East has been nabbed with 45kgs of elephant tusks with unknown street value.

John Mwita Muniko was arrested at his home by police officers who posed as buyers from a tip off information from KWS Nairobi.

Explaining the incident to the press,Migori County Police Commander David Kirui said that the raid was successful since they had been given prior information on whereabouts of the suspect by the members of the public who talked to the regular police who in turn formed a joint effort to raid the suspect residence posing as potential buyers and managed to arrest him.

“The suspect was found in his home with the ivory in a bag when the joint efforts of the police and the Kenya Wildlife officers posed as buyers and managed to arrest him,” he said.

The value of the ivory has not yet been established as the officers could not managed to get the market value of the tusks.

“The value of the five tusks,2 long and 3 short that are believed to be of an elephant has not been established as officers are not yet to know its value,” he added.

The ivory that is suspected to have come from the neighbouring Tanzania or from the Masai Mara National park after the killing of the elephants in the park in the recent past and the suspect was looking for the markets of the illegal trade.

The suspected teacher has been arraigned in Migori High court and granted on cash bail of ksh1m and surety of similar amount as the case continues to be heard.