How smugglers sneak in illicit liquor and contraband through porous lake border

10,000 litres of illicit liquor was destroyed in Rarieda, Siaya County. [Isaiah Gwengi, Standard]

Unscrupulous traders are using boats and motorbikes to sneak in illicit brew through porous borders of Siaya and Busia.

The smugglers grease the palms of some civil servants.

They offer bribes of between Sh100,000 and Sh200,000 to ferry their stuff. 

Sources indicated there is collusion between security apparatus, politicians and other institutions.

Our investigations have established there are about five main smuggling stores in Siaya, Bondo and Rarieda towns where the consignment is kept before being distributed to retailers.

The dealers, who have illegally acquired identification documents, drive around in vehicles with tinted windows bearing Ugandan registration numbers.

Sources indicated that conspirators enjoy unlimited access to many security areas and get preferential where they paid the protection fee in advance so that the vehicles carrying their merchandise cruised into Kenya without any inspection