Police in Kirinyaga county have arrested one suspect and seized a large consignment of suspected contraband goods following a well-planned raid in Kienja village.
The operation by a multi-agency team led by Kirinyaga County Commissioner Hussein Araso stormed a shop suspected of selling contraband items after receiving a tip-off from concerned residents.
"The operation was mounted following a tip-off from members of the public. Acting on this intelligence, the team raided a shop suspected of selling contraband cigarettes," a statement by the police said.
During the operation, police discovered 94 full cartons and four opened cartons of cigarettes and 89,000 banned polythene bags items which are illegal under Kenyan law.
The suspect was taken into custody and is expected to be charged in court. The recovered goods were kept as evidence as investigations continue.
"The National Police Service appreciates the vigilance of the public and encourages continued cooperation in the fight against the trade in contraband and other illegal activities," the police said.
This underscores the government’s commitment and determination to eradicate illicit trade in the country.
Illicit trade not only causes unfair competition to legally trading products in the market but also poses potential health hazards to unsuspecting consumers.
Illicit trade and contraband goods are also harmful to the economy as they lead to loss of government revenue through tax evasion.
In January, police arrested and detained a suspect and a vehicle that was found carrying 50 bags of contraband sugar in Garissa.
The suspect had earlier escaped a dragnet in the area and abandoned his vehicle carrying the sugar.
He had originated the Kenya-Somalia main border with the product when police intercepted him in Garissa town.
He abandoned his vehicle and escaped. The vehicle was taken to the local station before the suspect was traced and arrested hours later.
Police said some of the sugar being consumed locally is smuggled from the main Kenya-Somalia border.
This affects the local production of the product and business in general.
