300 bags of contraband sugar destroyed in Garissa
The contraband sugar with an estimated value of Sh2.5 million being destroyed at the Garissa dumpsite following a court order. Police had a hard time trying to prevent locals from scooping the condemned sugar. PHOTO
What you need to know:
- The contraband sugar was nabbed on February 4, 2013 at the border point and the owner charged at the Garissa High Court.
- The court ruled that the illegal sugar be burnt because it posed a health hazard as it was transported along with other weapons and it was therefore unhygienic.
- There was drama at the destruction site as locals became uncontrollable as they tried to loot the contraband sugar.
Police in Garissa Town Friday destroyed 300 bags of contraband sugar with an estimated value of Sh2.5 million following a court order.
According to Garissa OCPD Benjamin Ong’ombe the contraband sugar was nabbed on February 4, 2013 at the border point and the owner charged at the Garissa High Court.
The court ruled that the illegal sugar be burnt because it posed a health hazard as it was transported along with other weapons and it was therefore unhygienic.
The owner was fined Sh400,000. He later appealed but lost the appeal.
The sugar was loaded into several police lorries under heavy security and ferried to the Garissa dumpsite situated in Modika 5km from Garissa Town.
Addressing press at the site, Garissa OCPD Benjamin Ong’ombe said destroying illegal goods was a good lesson to those who engage in illegal trade.
“We appeal to the locals to work closely with the police and inform us of any illegal activities,” he said.
SECURITY THREAT
Ong’ombe cautioned the resident to be vigilant against illegal goods entering the county as this could also pose greater danger to their security.
“ The police cannot allow unscrupulous traders to sneak in illegal goods that are manufactured outside the country and trade them inside Kenya.
Such trade exposes the Kenyan people to serious risks as illegal weapons could be the next trade,” noted Ong’ombe.
He however urged the locals to use locally manufactured goods to boost the country’s economy.
There was drama at the destruction site as locals became uncontrollable as they tried to loot the contraband sugar.
Police had a hard time trying to contain the situation.
Contraband goods find their way into Kenya through the porous Kenya-Somalia border with widespread claims of bribery of security officers manning border points.
The destruction of the contraband sugar comes just a month after police in Garissa set ablaze an assorted cache of sugar, powdered milk, shoes and electronic goods that has entered the county from Somalia through the Liboi border crossing point.
