NAIROBI: A team of Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) Customs and Border Control officers in conjunction with police at the Namanga Border Post intercepted a narcotics drug haul valued at Sh2.2 million.
The narcotics haul comprising of 45 sacks of bhang and disguised as Sunflower seeds, was intercepted during a random cargo verification exercise on a Tanzanian registered vehicle, entering Kenya on Thursday evening.
The drug haul weighing 1,131 kilograms and with an estimated street value of Sh2.26million is suspected to have been in transit to Nairobi.
The driver of the vehicle escaped before the interception took place. KRA’s Customs and Border Control Acting Commissioner, Julius Musyoki, said, Customs officers at all border points have intensified surveillance measures at all points of entry to curb smuggling and drug trafficking incidents.
KRA Customs and Border Control Officers, backed by officers from the Anti-Narcotics Police Unit, he added are pursuing several suspects associated with the drug haul, who are said to have escaped arrest after abandoning the truck and its trailer.
“KRA Customs and Border Control officers, have intensified checks and audits at the Border Posts, to ensure that any cargo arriving in Kenya, is duly verified to ascertain its contents,” Musyoki said.
On this particular incident, no arrest was made as the truck was abandoned at the verification centre but police are pursuing credible leads, he added.
The Tanzanian registered motor vehicles (T231 AUH and trailer T777 AFA) ferrying has since been detained at the Namanga Border Police Station.
