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The US government has pledged support to improve security and surveillance at the port of Mombasa, to held curb the passage of a transit poached wildlife trophies and other contraband products.
Yesterday, the US Secretary for Interior Sally Jewell toured the facility to get first-hand experience of the measures put in place to curb the illegal trafficking of ivory and other wildlife trophies.
Speaking at the port, Jewell said she was pleased with the efforts made by Kenyan government to ensure that illegal poaching does not thrive in the country.
She said Kenya and US share the same challenges, the two countries are source of poached wildlife trophies and their port facilities being used as transit points.
“Surveillance is the greatest challenge. I have come here as a partner to see how best we can curb this illegal trafficking of wildlife trophies,” she said.
She said the port of Mombasa is well positioned, as it serves the East and Central Africa, therefore surveillance should be improved to ensure that the illegal business of trafficking ivory and other contraband product does not take place.
Environment Cabinet Secretary Judi Wakhungu said historically the port of Mombasa has been transit point for ivory and other contraband products.
She said the Kenya government is working with other international partners, which include the Interpol, United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime and others, to help curb illegal trafficking of drugs and ivory through the port of Mombasa.
She said about 80 per cent of the seizure of ivory and other illegal wildlife trophies have been done here in Kenya within the last few years.
“Previously, most of the seizure happened in the Middle East countries,” she said.
An inter-agency team of Kenya Ports Authority, Kenya Revenue Authority, Kenya Wildlife Services, Kenya Maritime Authority and Kenya Forests Services has been set up to ensure the port of Mombasa is not used a transit or entry point of poached wildlife ivory.
http://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2016/01/27/us-pledges-to-help-in-port-security-beef-up_c1283492