A truck driver was today arraigned before the Busia Law Court Senior Resident Magistrate Ms. Phoebe Kulecho and charged with three offences including being in possession of ethanol worth Kshs. 12 million.

The suspect, Mr Peter Lawrence Mwangi, was also accused of transporting restricted goods contrary to Section 199 of the East African Community Customs Management Act (EACCMA), 2004 and concealment of imported goods contrary to Section 202(a) of the EACCMA, 2004.

Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) officers based at Busia One-Stop Border Post (OSBP) arrested the suspect during a routine verification process and impounded two trucks ferrying goods from Uganda. The trucks with registration number KBU 336Q/ZD0532 and T934ACJ/T801ASW AC921B were each carrying 72 drums containing 250 litres of ethanol packed in 144 drums and concealed in 43 bags of maize packed in each truck.

The suspect was arrested when he presented himself to the KRA officers as the driver of the truck KBU 336Q/ZD0532. The other truck driver and the consignees are at large and are being sought after by the police.

Mr. Mwangi was released on bond of Kshs 500,000/= with one surety. Next hearing is scheduled for 21st April 2020.

KRA has stepped up border surveillance at all ports of entry to curb incidents of smuggling. Multi-agency collaborations and intelligence sharing has been enhanced to curb illicit trade.

KRA Western Regional Coordinator, Mercy Njuguna