A truck driver has been charged before Busia senior principal magistrate Patrick Olengo with being in possession of smuggled mahogany timber worth Ksh1.4 million.
Customs and Border Control officers arrested the accused person along Malaba-Busia highway on 26th November 2020 alongside others who did not appear before court.
Upon attestation, the officers found 29.6 cubic meters of uncustomed mahogany timber in his possession contrary to sections 200 (iii) (d),210 and 211 of the East African Community Customs Management Act (EACCMA) 2004.
It is believed that the uncustomed goods originated from the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The accused pleaded not guilty to the offence and was released on Ksh50,000 cash bail or Ksh100,000 bond.
The case will be mentioned on 21st December while the hearing is set for 15th April 2021.
“KRA has taken up arms in the fight against illegal trade. In partnership with other government agencies the authority has put in place structures aimed at beefing up surveillance along border points to help curb illicit trade,” the Kenya Revenue Authority Manager for the Western region said in a statement.
Truck Drivers
On November 30, another truck driver pleaded guilty before Eldoret Law Court to charges of interfering with transit cargo bound for The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and stealing goods worth Kshs 2.8 million
The accused, Francis Murungi was jointly charged with Abraham Some and Gladys Mwangi with two counts of interfering with a consignment of 877 bales of mosquito nets without permission from the authorised Customs officer.
He also admitted to the second count of removing Customs seals from the truck before stealing 720 bales of the mosquito nets.
