Detectives on Thursday, January 4, evening arrested two people in connection with 32.5 tonnes of contraband milk powder at a godown along the Eastern Bypass in Ruai, Nairobi.
In a statement, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) said an intelligence-led operation by detectives from the Operations Support Unit (OSU) targeted cartels selling smuggled milk powder in the country.
“In the sting operation, an unsuspecting known broker in Eastleigh by the name Ali Noor directed an undercover officer to Kamakis area along Eastern Bypass, after he (officer) posed as a potential buyer,” DCI revealed.
On arrival, a KBP 480A Mitsubishi truck loaded with an agreed 150 bags each weighing 25 kg arrived with the agreed price being Sh16,500 per bag, translating to Sh2,475,000 in the transaction.
The truck was under the escort of the consignment owner who was driving a Toyota Prado and who is believed to be the main supplier to business people within Nairobi.
The sting operation led to the arrest of two suspects, Joseph Waweru and Noor, and the recovery of a significant amount of contraband goods, but the driver of the truck managed to escape.
After interrogation, detectives managed to trace the godown of the main suspect (Joseph Waweru) which is located at Twin Industrial Park Godowns within Ruai area off Eastern Bypass.
Gaining access in the presence of the suspect, they recovered another 1150 bags each weighing 25Kg of milk powder (5 brands) and 289 bags each weighing 25Kg of maize corn starch.
Also, inside the godown was a truck Reg No. KDG 087Z with 17 empty drums suspected to be used to transport Ethanol.
The brands of the milk powder include 181 bags branded Fresh Dairy product of Brookside Uganda, 421 bags branded Gardo product of New Zealand, 485 bags of Non-Dairy Creamer product of China, 56 bags branded SAMA product of New Zealand, 6 bags branded Lato product of Uganda & 289 bags of maize corn starch product of India.
This recent bust is part of a larger effort to combat the illegal trade of milk products in Kenya.
In a similar operation earlier, officials recovered 16 tonnes of illegally imported powdered milk in the Eastleigh area, with the product claimed to have originated in Uganda.
In another raid, police and the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) recovered a consignment of uncustomed powdered milk worth over Sh75 million.
The suspects have been placed in custody as further investigations into the illegal milk trade continue.
