This archive report was first published on 28 December 2019.
On Saturday, the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) made a significant seizure in Makueni County. A consignment of 7,500 litres of ethanol, valued at over Ksh2 million, was intercepted at Sultan Hamud.
The ethanol was cleverly concealed in a 10,000-litre water tanker. Upon examination, it was discovered that the tanker had 2,500 litres of water in an outer compartment, while the second, hidden compartment contained the ethanol.
The samples were taken for testing at the KRA and Government chemist laboratory, and the results confirmed the consignment to be ethanol. The truck driver and owner have been arrested and will be arraigned in court.
Investigations are ongoing to identify the beneficial owners and smugglers behind the operation. The KRA has been working to combat illicit production and consumption of spirit-based beverages since 2015, when it introduced procedures to govern access, purchase, and importation of ethanol.
The procedures, which took effect on September 1, 2015, aim to control access to ethanol and prevent revenue hemorrhage. The KRA has made efforts to seal revenue loopholes amid shortfalls in revenue collection.
The agency is part of a multi-agency team fighting illicit trade and contraband goods.
