Nairobi, Jun 23 (IANS): Kenyan authorities have intercepted a Nigeria-bound cargo carrying illegal ivory weighing over 600 kg.

The illegal raw ivory was seized at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport by Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and police officials who were on a routine check, Xinhua quoted Paul Udoto, affairs manager of Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) Corporate, as saying Friday.

They intercepted 345 pieces of raw ivory, weighing 601 kg and destined for Nigeria's Lagos city, said Udoto.

It was packed in six crates and sprayed with pepper to prevent dogs from sniffing it and was further covered with aluminum foil.

Authorities have launched investigation to determine the origin and owners of the illegal raw ivory cargo, which was to be flown on Ethiopian Airlines, Udoto said.

"The round-the-clock surveillance has been enhanced at all Kenyan exit and entry points while sniffer dogs and their handlers have proved incorruptible and have once again outsmarted the smugglers," Udoto said.

KWS spokesperson Paul Mbugua said earlier that they were working out to have a forensic laboratory establish facts so as to enable them to know the tusks' source.

Kenya, the east African nation, is one of those countries where poaching is rampant despite the vice having been outlawed in the country in 1977.

Poachers target especially rhinos and elephants for their tusks and skins that fetch a lot of money in the black market particularly in Asia.

As a popular destination especially for tourists from Europe, Kenya is known for its great wildlife, including elephants, giraffes, wildebeests (a hooved mammal), lions, and leopards. These animals are protected in national parks.