NAIROBI: A Kenyan police officer has been arrested with a piece of illegal rhino horn worth tens of thousands of dollars on the black market, wildlife officials said Tuesday.
Corporal Henry Mokua Onsongo allegedly threatened to shoot the arresting officers from the Kenya Wildlife Service before being overpowered and taken into custody with two other suspects on Monday night.
"The man was arrested with a piece of rhino horn weighing 600 grammes," said KWS spokesman Paul Muya.
Rhino horn is estimated to be worth around US$65,000 per kilogramme on the black market in Asia where it is believed by some to cure cancer and hangovers.
Widespread poaching of rhinos in Africa is driven by Asian demand for the sought-after horn and is facilitated by corruption, according to conservationists. – AFP
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