Barely months after the government slapped a ban on imported sugar as way of safeguarding and building the capacity of local factories, the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) announced on Thursday it had intercepted a truck with 144 bags of illegal sugar being imported into the country.

KRA officials said they were tipped off by Good Samaritans about a truck ferrying 144 bags of brown sugar, concealed in a consignment of oranges, at the Lunga Lunga One Stop Border Post in Kwale County.

Consequently, customs enforcement officers, acting on intelligence flagged down a foreign-registered truck that was suspected of ferrying contraband brown sugar for inspection.

The truck was directed to the verification yard for a multi-agency inspection, which is mandatory under Section 153 of the East African Community Customs Management Act (EACCMA), 2004.

Upon thorough inspection, a consignment of 144 bags (each weighing 50 kilogrammes) of smuggled brown sugar, valued at approximately Ksh1,080,000 was discovered hidden beneath the oranges to avoid detection and evade tax.

Commissioner of Customs and Border Control Lillian Nyawanda said these are continuous efforts by the authority to deter potential smugglers from accessing Kenyan territory with contraband goods.

“The driver of the truck could not produce any documents for the sugar. This act violates sections 199 and 200 of the EACCMA, 2004,” Dr Nyawanda said.  

The truck and its contents were detained at the customs warehouse pending further investigation by the multi-agency border management team.

“KRA wishes to remind the public that sugar importation remains restricted in line with recent government directives aimed at supporting and reviving the local sugar industry. The authority remains steadfast in enforcing national and international trade laws to protect Kenya’s economy and borders,” Nyawanda warned.

• A Tell Media / KNA report / By Andrew Hinga