Kenya Wildlife Service Canine Unit together with police and customs officials at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport yesterday morning intercepted 345 pieces of raw ivory weighing 601 kilogramme destined for Lagos, Nigeria.

The ivory, packed in six crates and sprayed with pepper to prevent dogs from sniffing it, had also been covered aluminum foil. The illegal cargo was to be flown on the Ethiopian Airlines.

Investigations determine the origin and owners of the illegal ivory have been launched. The cargo has been taken to KWS headquarters in Nairobi.

In a statement, KWS said surveillance has been enhanced at all Kenya's exit and entry points to arrest the smuggling of game trophies."The sniffer dogs and their handlers have proved incorruptible and have once again outsmarted the smugglers," read the statement, adding that, "No effort will be spared in ensuring that no illegal wildlife product leaves or transits through our country as provided for by Kenyan and international law (United Nations Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna-CITES)."