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Kenya police arrest head of illegal reptile smuggling syndicate over brutal murder of Kenya Wildlife Service officer John Murugi.

Story by RICHARD WAMALA
Publication Date: 24/02/2006

Kenyan police have arrested a foreign national over the brutal slaying of KWS officer John Murugi.

The suspect was arrested friday morning after a shootout that lasted over an hour at the suspects residence in Nyali. The suspect is claimed to be the head of a well known reptile smuggling syndicate in the East African sub region and was arrested in a joint operative by officers of the CID and KWS.

The suspect later was flown to Nairobi where he was questioned by CID officers and transferred to Kamithi maximum-security prison. He is to appear at High Court on March 12th.

John Murugi who was brutally murdered was a father of two. His body was found severely mutilated at the gates of his residence on February 21st. Mr. Murugi has been investigating the suspect over illegal trade in endangered species of wildlife.

...Damn pity, & as a former Conservation Officer, my heart is particularly heavy.

We in the states dont begin to appreciate the challenges faced by our colleagues in Africa....where the wildlife trade finances small armys w/ political agendas...much as drogas do in sud America... The idea of having idealogues jumping out of the bush firing Ak-47's is chilling to say the least & damn the governments involved for not fighting back w/ airborne infantry & leave the poor rangers to deal w/ subsistence poachers....

What a damned shame...may the bagpipes mourn as they always will...

Hers an Az technical out on desert patrol...