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Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) is set to destroy 39 containers of sugar worth KES 56 million and 64 containers of ethanol worth KES 288 million nabbed at the Mombasa port believed to have been imported form Brazil.
Addressing the press in a joint press release at Auto port facility where the said 39 containers are being held, EACC chairman Halakhe Waqo said the containers were nabbed at the Mombasa Port following high intelligence information received.
He said the sugar that was imported from Brazil had been stuffed in 39 containers and disguised as hardware material, whole lentils and photocopier, office furniture, new shoes and dried grapes.
KAR commissioner general, John Njiraini said the nabbed cargo will be destroyed to send a message to people who have been importing illegal cargo.
He revealed that KRA will also auction five Range Rovers that were impounded at the port of Mombasa on October and November last year.
“No cargo will be imported into the country without being verified from the country of origin and seals provided to avoid interference,” said Njiraini.
He further revealed that a meeting with the finance ministers and commissioner generals of revenue authorities from the five East African countries will be held in Mombasa on Saturday to discuss the implementation of electronic cargo tracking platform.
“At the moment, Kenya is going towards that direction and we believe by March we will have implemented and improved our surveillance as we have already ordered for new scanners,” said Njiraini.
Director of criminal investigation Ndegwa Muhuro urged members of the public to provide police with names of those involved in smuggling.
“We are now working on a multi agency level to ensure that we arrest those involved in smuggling,” said Muhuro.
The sugar that is being held at the auto port facility was nabbed at the port of Mombasa and was allegedly on transit to one of the neighboring countries.
