A multi-agency security team has arrested a 42-year-old woman for dealing with endangered wildlife species.

PHOTO/COURTESY

The woman identified as Beth Wambui alias Mama Liam was arrested at Athi River when she was heading towards Mombasa.

Wambui was found in possession of 250 kilograms of the endangered sandalwood species estimated to be worth Sh750,000.

The illegal items were found carefully concealed in the boot of her car.

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PHOTO/COURTESY

Since the Kenyan government outlawed harvesting of the sandalwood back in 2007, some unscrupulous individuals have been harvesting it illegally.

The tree that predominantly grows in Baringo and Samburu counties is usually harvested for its essential oil, which is extracted and processed to manufacture cosmetics and some medicine.

PHOTO/COURTESY

The International Union for Conservation of nature has classified it under the red list of threatened species.

Wambui will be arraigned in court and charged with dealing in endangered wildlife species.

She has violated Section 92 (2) of the wildlife conservation and management Act of 2013

Beth Wambui Waithera. PHOTO/COURTESY