Two suspects believed to be part of an international wildlife trafficking ring were on Thursday August 28, 2025 arraigned at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) Law Courts after being arrested in Mombasa with rhino horns valued at Ksh 10 million.

The accused, Feiswal Mohamed Ali, 58, and Mohammed Hassan Kontoma, 75, were intercepted on Tuesday in the Mama Ngina area of Mombasa while in possession of two rhino horns weighing 2.2 kilograms.

They were later flown to Nairobi to face charges of illegal possession and dealing in wildlife trophies.

During the court session, Prosecuting Counsel Allan Mulama representing the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), requested that the suspects be detained for ten days to allow investigators from the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) to conclude their inquiries.

He told the court that the pair are suspected to be senior players in a sophisticated transnational smuggling syndicate that finances, transports, and coordinates the movement of illicit wildlife products across borders.

Mulama explained that investigators intend to conduct DNA testing on the recovered horns to establish their origin and perform digital forensics on two seized mobile phones.

He further revealed that the probe had extended internationally, with communication already initiated through INTERPOL to uncover the network’s global connections.

Authorities are also following a suspected money trail spread across several local and foreign bank accounts.

The prosecution raised concerns about Feiswal’s background, noting that he had once been convicted of trafficking 317 kilograms of ivory and sentenced to 20 years in prison with a hefty fine.

He has an active international warrant of arrest, making him a significant flight risk.

Meanwhile, Senior Principal Magistrate Njeri Thuku will deliver the ruling on the detention request on August 29, 2025.