By Tajeu Shadrack Nkapapa
DCI detectives arrested 18 suspects at a warehouse in Eastleigh, Nairobi, after they were caught in the act of unloading a shipment of fabrics purportedly en route from the port of Mombasa to the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The arrests, which took place last evening, were the result of several days of surveillance conducted by operatives from the elite Operation Support Unit (OSU).
These operatives had been monitoring a suspected network of organized criminals engaged in tax evasion by misrepresenting goods as exports and subsequently redirecting them to local markets.
“In a classic case of impunity and conspiracy with rogue government officials, the trailer carrying the consignment (http://reg.no. KBT 641G/ZD3436), was spotted changing its original registration plates to KBY 548K at the Machakos Junction, and at the same time tampered with the Regional Electronic Cargo Tracking System (RECTS) before proceeding with the journey towards Nairobi,” the DCI said on X.
The DCI reported that after several stops around the Capital perhaps to find out whether the tampering had been detected, the trailer proceeded with the journey to Mai Mahiu, where the driver assisted by another person decorated the truck with some stickers to further conceal the identity of the trailer.
“The vehicle then took a turn to Nairobi’s Eastleigh area at the KBS parking yard where it was opened and the offloading started. Right on cue, the detectives struck rounding up the 18, including the Meshack Leo (driver) and two store owners, Yusuf Mohammed Noor and Abdi Nasir Dur,” said the DCI.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations has indicated that initial inquiries have revealed that the same syndicate is currently under scrutiny by both the DCI and the KRA Investigations Department.
This group has previously diverted five trucks containing identical consignments linked to the same consignee/importer, identified as Kasdama Kasongo Francois from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Furthermore, it is suspected that the individuals involved are part of a larger criminal network that has been systematically diverting goods in transit, having developed the capability to compromise RECTS officers responsible for monitoring the trackers and those stationed along the transit corridor to respond to alerts regarding any tampering with the RECTS seal.
Imported textiles are notably subject to elevated taxation rates, allowing the cartel to evade substantial tax payments, which results in significant revenue losses for the government.
The investigation is ongoing as the situation is being examined.