KENYA REVENUE AUTHORITY SEIZE BIRDS AND BUTTERFLY TROPHIES

Kenya Revenue Authority nabs birds and butterfly trophies. PHOTO /COURTESY

KENYA REVENUE AUTHORITY SEIZE BIRDS AND BUTTERFLY TROPHIES

By Grace Chege

Customs Officials at Lunga Lunga One-Stop Border Post (OSBP) intercepted a consignment of 201 pieces of dried butterflies and 20 pieces of vulterine guinea fowl feathers imported from Tanga, Tanzania.

The restricted consignment was seized from a passenger who was suspected to have been illegally planning to export the shipment to Hungary and UK respectively.

The suspect was intercepted while travelling by bus from Tanga to Mombasa.

He had a temporary Tanzanian passport and did not have a required permit from Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and other relevant authorizing institutions as required by law.

KRA Customs officials intercepted the consignment during a routine scanning exercise at the border post.

The officials noticed the suspicious cargo prompting them to physically verify contents of the shipment and later discovered the restricted items.

He was also found to be in possession of a stamp with initials of the Director of Veterinary Services, Dar es Salaam.

Documents in his possession indicate that the dried butterfly’s consignee was in Szombathely, Hungary while an Invoice indicated that the consignor for the vulterine guinea fowl feathers was in Dar es Salaam.

The suspect has been handed over to Kenya wildlife service for further interrogation and action.

Guinea fowl and butterfly trophies are restricted goods under the East African Community Customs Management Act (EACCMA) second schedule.

KRA is a custodian of the Convention for International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) and other local and international laws.

The Authority has recently intercepted consignments of game trophies and other artifacts.

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