At least eight suspects were at the weekend arrested in a sting operation that saw more than two tonnes of sandalwood recovered in Sagana, Kirinyaga County.
The eight were arrested in an operation mounted by police and Kenya Wildlife Service officials who were acting on a tip off.
The suspects include a known dealer in the business and his loaders, the police said.
The team also recovered two cars the group was using in their mission.
Police said they had loaded 24 sacks of sandalwood weighing approximately 2.5 tonnes with a street value of Sh3 million.
The group was moved to Nairobi ahead of their arraignment on Monday April 15, 2024 at the Kahawa West Law Courts.
Police believe the wood was sourced from Samburu and indicates several trees were felled.
This is the latest such recovery and arrests to be made in an operation that is aimed at taming the business.
Last month, a driver was arrested after he was found ferrying sandalwood valued at Sh12 million in Girgir area of Wamba North location Samburu County.
Police said he was ferrying approximately six tonnes of sandalwood, a rare endangered tree species.
The lorry had developed mechanical problems when the driver stopped to check on it on the road when police on patrol found it on March 16.
It was later towed to the local police station pending investigations and other processes.
The woods from endangered species of trees around the country’s forests were seized during various sting operations in Samburu County.
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 whole 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.
It has the same status of endangerment as 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 last year in March presided over the destruction of 13.5 tonnes of sandalwood as a sign of their seriousness to fight those targeting the trees.
The product was valued at Sh45 million.
Cabinet Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry Soipan Tuya led the exercise at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations.
She said the ban stands in effect and warned those handling it of fire consequences.
