Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) Thursday led a Multi-Agency team in destroying contraband food stuff with a market value of Sh24 million at Kibarani in Mombasa County.
The counterfeit goods which were imported by unscrupulous importers last year was set ablaze at the former kibarani dumpsite by the team led by the Coast Regional Commissioner (RC) John Elungata.
The food stuff some of which had expired includes 4,412 bags of rice of 50kg, 1,166 bags of sugar packed in 50kg bags, maize in sacks and 38 boxes of thermos flasks had be stored in various go-downs in Mombasa.
The multi-agency team that seized the contraband goods included KBS, Kenya Anti-Counterfeit Agency, Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI) and Kenya Police Service.
Elungata said the goods were legally imported but expired while in the storage at various warehouses around shimanzi area.
“We have heighted surveillance on illegal and expired goods to protect the public from consuming harmful products,” said Elungata.
He asked police and other security agencies to be more vigilant against smuggling of contraband and illicit goods especially at the border points.
“It is believed that the goods were waiting repackaging before beings released to the market afresh,” added the Regional Commissioner.
He warned traders against repackaging food products and releasing them to the market saying they pose grave danger to consumers.
Elungata called on the members of the public to cooperate with government agencies to expose unscrupulous traders out to enrich themselves through dubious means.
He said the destruction of the goods underscored the government’s commitment to fight importation of contraband and illicit products and added that the vice also pose unfair competition to those conducting legal business.
Late last year, KEBS seized and destroyed 58 tons of Ziana Spaghetti brand and 6 tons of rice worth Sh10 million imported from Italy through the Port of Mombasa that had surpassed the expiry date while still in the storage at a warehouse in shimanzi.
by Mohamed Hassan
