Police on Monday night arrested 18 people at a go-down in Eastleigh, Nairobi while offloading
loads of fabric that had arrived from Mombasa.
The cargo had been
declared as being for export but is alleged to have been diverted to the go down in Eastleigh
where it was being offloaded.
Detectives from DCI’s
Operations Support Unit said they had trailed the cargo from Mombasa for three
days following reports the owners planned to divert it for local use.
From the Mombasa
port, the importers said it was meant for export to Tanzania and Uganda.
They then hit the
road to Nairobi before the trailer with the cargo was diverted to Eastleigh.
It was driven into a
go-down where a group started to offload the same before police struck.
The 18 were detained
pending further probe. Police said they are pursuing reports such a trend has
been rampant in the area leading to loss of revenue running into millions of
shillings.
A probe into the syndicate
is ongoing. The store was sealed off pending further visitations by police and Kenya Revenue Authority officials.
Elsewhere, a man police said was wanted for container burglary was arrested after months of investigations.
After months of undercover investigations, police in Mombasa arrested the man who they termed a key suspect and a member of a container burglary syndicate.
The suspect faces charges of stealing to sell a condemned detergent known as Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulphate to unsuspecting members of the public.
The suspect was arrested in Nairobi while on his way from Mombasa. The police are pleading with the public to share any reports of fake detergents in circulation.
According to shared documents from the DCI officer investigating the matter, the arrest occurred on February 25, 2025.
The stolen goods were allegedly recovered at Kalu Works in Changamwe at the suspect’s store.
The DCI was granted seven days to detain the suspect at Kilindini Police Station.
The DCI is convinced that the suspect represents a bigger syndicate hence the matter calls for serious investigations.
“The matter is of national interest and a breach
of security whereby through preliminary investigations, the respondent is part
of a bigger syndicate suspected to be connected to the sale of condemned goods within
Mombasa and its environs,” an affidavit read in part.
KPA has previously instituted strict controls on port entry with all port users and visitors required to display passes at all times, restricted entry to container terminals and other key areas as well as security patrols in the ports.
The agency has also put in place an integrated security system and a multi-agency team, including maritime officers to help curb theft.
