Police in Garissa have impounded a truck loaded with suspected contraband sugar along Disso to Garissa road.
The 360-bags consignment of 25 kilograms each, believed to be from neighbouring Somalia were, according to Garissa County Commissioner, Meru Mwangi destined for wholesale stores within Garissa town.
Speaking to the press on Thursday after inspecting the consignment at the Garissa Police Station, Mwangi who was flanked by the county security team said police are hunting down the owner(s) of the consignment.
He said a Probox saloon car that was leading the truck and could have been carrying the owner(s) of the consignment made a quick U-turn on spotting the police and sped off.
Mwangi said the driver and the turn boy of the truck are being held by the police for further interrogation.
The CC added that the police are also looking for the owner of the lorry whom they believe will shed more light on the consignment.
“The owner(s) of the consignment and the vehicle can run but they cannot hide. We will catch up with them soon rather than later. The good thing is that we already have the consignment,” Mwangi said.
He said the government will not relent in its war on contraband goods that he noted was not only denying the government revenue but also exposing Kenyans to health risks.
“We want to thank members of the public for working closely with security agencies by providing information that has time and again led to the arrest and seizure of contraband goods,” Mwangi said.
The arrest comes barely a month after the North Eastern Regional Commissioner, Mohamed Birik warned rogue government officials who collude with unscrupulous businessmen to allow contraband goods into the country that stern disciplinary action will be taken against them.
Birik said the government the will not hesitate to sack such officials and have them answer for their crime in court.
Cases of contraband goods finding their way into the country from Somalia remain a challenge to the security personal manning the porous and expansive border.
Elected leaders among them, Dadaab MP, Mohamed Dahiye have severally called on the government to re-open the border with Somalia to allow genuine trade to thrive.
This they noted will be a win-win situation for both the government and the business community.
“The government will earn revenue from taxes while trade of genuine products will flourish for the business community,” Dahiye said.
By Jacob Songok
