Kenya: 2 suspects and a Police officer arrested with 600kg of rhino horns

Photo credit Suleiman Mbatiah

2 suspects  and a police officer attached to Nairobi’s Industrial Area Police Station, were on Monday evening arrested with 600 kilogrammes of rhino horns.

Corporal Henry Mokua Onsongo, Mr Eliud Wanyonyi Wafubwa and Mr Richard Ngeleka Kalatanda, a Congolese, were arrested at Bounty Hotel in Nairobi by Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) officers.

Chief Inspector Charles Inoti of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations and two KWS officers found the three in a motor vehicle at the hotel.

The officers said Corporal Onsongo threatened to shoot them with his official firearm but was overpowered and later disarmed.

Kenya Police spokesperson Zipporah Mboroki said the three would be charged in court later on Tuesday.

“No single shot was fired. The rhino horns and the officer’s firearm, loaded with 15 rounds of ammunition, have been kept as exhibits,” she said.