Two Arrested, Sh5 Million Worth of Sandalwood Seized in Nyahururu Bust
NYAHURURU, Kenya – In a significant crackdown on the illegal timber trade, a multi-agency team has arrested two suspects and intercepted sandalwood valued at approximately Sh5 million in Nyahururu, Laikipia County.
The operation, which took place on Saturday, was led by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) with support from the National Police Service. Acting on intelligence reports, the officers ambushed a vehicle, registration number KAX 049C, along the Nyahururu-Rumuruti road.
Upon inspection, authorities discovered the vehicle was laden with 532 kilograms of processed sandalwood logs. The driver, Edwin Tenai, and his accomplice, Daniel Makori, were arrested at the scene.
The suspects, along with the confiscated contraband, were escorted to the Nyahururu Police Station. They are currently being processed and are expected to be arraigned in court to face charges. The vehicle and the sandalwood have been secured as exhibits for the impending legal proceedings.
This seizure highlights the ongoing efforts by Kenyan authorities to combat the poaching and smuggling of endangered tree species. The trade in sandalwood is regulated under Kenya’s Forest Conservation and Management Act and the international CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) regulations, due to its threatened status.
The bust has also sparked public discussion on the economic potential of the valuable wood. A comment on social media platform X, echoed by many, questioned, “if Sandalwood is that expensive, why can’t we just grow them and make money as a country?” This sentiment points to a growing conversation about promoting legal cultivation as a sustainable alternative to illicit harvesting, aiming to harness the plant’s economic value while protecting it from extinction.
The operation serves as a strong reminder of the government’s commitment to protecting the country’s valuable and dwindling natural resources from illegal exploitation.
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