Police in Malaba recover illegal alcohol being ferried as a deceased person in coffin

Kenya: Malaba police have arrested six people and impounded a vehicle ferrying illegal alcoholic drinks into Kenya.

The six are believed to have packaged 1,100 Ugandan Waragi sachets of 100ml each, hundreds of sachets of Simba Waragi and Coffee Spirit and hidden them in a coffin.

Busia County Commissioner Mongo Chimwanga said the vehicle was stopped on a routine check.

"We arrested the people at Malaba border, they said that they were relatives of a deceased person from Mbale, Uganda and were headed to Nairobi for burial. Police checked the coffin and discovered unlicensed alcohol in the vehicle. The suspects tried to flee but were caught," said Mr Chimwanga.

Kenya Revenue Authority officials were summoned to check whether the goods were cleared for import and found out that they were actually contraband.

Chimwanga said investigations were complete and the suspects would be arraigned in court for dealing in contraband goods.

This comes two days after the security committee visited Malaba and Busia to assess border security and come up with ways to end the trade in contraband goods and human trafficking.

PATROL BOATS

Led by Vice Chairperson Alois Lentoimanga, the committee said that corruption at the border was to blame. They promised to champion for patrol boats that would patrol Kenyan waters in Lake Victoria.

In July, the Kenya Bureau of Standards (Kebs) suspended licences of 385 alcoholic brands in the country. Kebs Managing Director Charles Ongwae said production of the listed drinks would remain suspended until they were inspected.