Five people on Wednesday arraigned in a Nairobi court and charged with the offence of dealing in endangered wildlife species.
Joseph Nguro Kabiro, Stephen Odongo, Mutua Mwangangi, Morris Maina and Agnes Nene Nasieku were nabbed by detectives while transporting the rare species contrary to the wildlife conservation and management Act.
"On the 21st day of March, Sleuths from the Serious Crime Unit, acting on intelligence obtained from the #FichuakwaDCI hotline, intercepted a lorry ferrying the extremely imperiled species at the devil’s hour along the busy Nairobi-Nakuru highway.
"Following a thorough search, 10 carefully fastened sacks disguised as parcels containing 534Kgs of the East African wood were recovered," DCI said in a statement.
The wildlife species originated in Kitui
Upon investigations, it was established that the consignment had initially been sent from Kitui and was destined for Busia border via Nairobi, with Odongo, Mwangangi and Maina being the middle men.
Joseph Nguro, 32, the lorry driver, together with his three accomplices were immediately placed in custody.
The detectives applied cybercrime techniques and link analysis at the DCI National Forensic Laboratory and successfully apprehended Agnes Nasieku, the would-be recipient of the wood and the mastermind behind the illegal trade.
"Nasieku, with her four accomplices today (Wednesday) pleaded not guilty and was given a temporary bond of 2 million shillings and a cash bail of a similar amount. The case will be mentioned on May 23rd, 2022," DCI added.
