Authorities in Busia County have intercepted a consignment of suspected uncustomed goods during a security operation in Malaba town, a key border point between Kenya and Uganda.
The operation, conducted by police in collaboration with other enforcement agencies, targeted suspicious transport activities believed to be involved in smuggling across the border. During the exercise, officers flagged down a lorry bearing registration number KDD 287U, an Isuzu FRR model.
However, upon being stopped, the driver of the lorry abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot, evading arrest. His sudden flight heightened the suspicions of the officers, who immediately secured the scene and arranged for the vehicle to be towed to the Malaba Police Station.
Once at the station, a thorough search was conducted by a multi-agency team, including officers from various security and regulatory bodies. During the inspection, the team made a significant discovery: 32 large drums, each suspected to contain 250 litres of ethanol, were found hidden beneath 52.5 white sacks believed to be filled with wheat bran.
The concealment of the drums beneath the sacks indicates a deliberate attempt to mislead law enforcement and smuggle the ethanol into or out of the country undetected. Ethanol is a controlled substance in Kenya and is often targeted by unscrupulous traders for use in the illicit production of alcoholic beverages. Its unregulated transport poses significant risks, including tax evasion and public health concerns.
Authorities have since secured both the lorry and the recovered consignment at the Malaba Police Station. Investigations are currently underway to determine the origin and intended destination of the ethanol, as well as to identify the individuals or networks behind the smuggling attempt. Efforts to trace and apprehend the lorry’s driver are ongoing, with law enforcement urging members of the public to provide any information that could aid in the arrest of the suspect.
This interception comes amid heightened surveillance efforts at Kenya’s borders, where illegal trade and tax evasion through uncustomed goods remain persistent challenges. The government has continued to deploy resources to curb the illicit movement of goods, which undermines legitimate business, endangers public safety, and deprives the country of critical revenue.
Officials have reiterated their commitment to cracking down on smuggling and have warned individuals engaged in such activities that they will face the full force of the law. Meanwhile, the recovered ethanol will be subjected to further analysis to confirm its content, and appropriate legal action will be taken upon the conclusion of investigations.
