Police impound Sh12m worth of sandalwood

Police arrested a driver and recovered sandalwood valued at Sh12 million in Girgir area of Wamba North location, Samburu county.

The lorry which was ferrying approximately six tonnes of the rare and protected endangered tree species had developed mechanical problems when police on patrol arrived at the scene on March 16.

It was later towed to the local police station pending investigations.
Sandalwood oil is extracted from the woods for use and is often cited as one of the most expensive woods in the world.

Kenya banned the harvesting and trade of sandalwood in 2007.
However, the trees continue to be cut for their essential oil, which is extracted to manufacture medicines and cosmetics.

The tree is uprooted to access the sandalwood oil, most of which is found in the roots and trunk.
The East African Sandalwood is listed within the Wildlife Conservation and Management Sixth Schedule as an Endangered Species in the same league with the White Rhino, African Elephant, and Blue Whale.

As a sign of seriousness in the fight against the harvesting of the trees, top government officials in March last year presided over the destruction of 13.5 tonnes of sandalwood, valued at Sh45 million. Cabinet Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry Roselinda Soipan Tuya led the exercise at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations headquarters.

Elsewhere in Maralal Samburu county, gunmen ambushed and killed a driver who was ferrying fish in a van.

The incident happened Sunday in Kirisia Forest along the Maralal-Opiroi murram road, police said.
The transporter was alone in his vehicle ferrying fish from Lake Turkana towards Maralal when he was fatally shot.

The attackers took charge of the van and repulsed police who tried to access the scene, police said.
Police had been alerted of the murder by motorcyclists at about 7pm.

And when the officers approached the scene, they were met with gunfire from the attackers, forcing them to retreat for the night.

Police said there were about 10 gunmen who had taken cover in the bushes near the scene of the incident.

The team was forced to retreat to the station without collecting the body. The attackers later abandoned the body at the scene and escaped with some of the fish.