Drivers charged with smuggling ethanol worth Ksh.10.8M

Two truck drivers have been separately charged with smuggling ethanol worth Ksh. 10.8 million and Ksh. 3.2 million respectively.

They appeared before Senior Resident Magistrate Phoebe Kulecho at the Busia Law Courts on Friday.

Peter Kimana Ngugi and Boniface Gitau Wanjiku faced similar counts of possession of restricted goods and that of conveying uncustomed goods both criminal offenses according to East Africa Community Customs Management Act,2004.

The two were arrested on January 15, 2021 at Busia OSBP after their trucks were found loaded with 128 drums each containing 200 litres of ethanol with each truck carrying 64 drums.

The ethanol was concealed under 117 MDF boards and 68 ceiling boards.

The accused persons denied all the charges and were each released on a bond of Ksh. 100,000 or cash bail of Ksh. 50,000.

The case will be mentioned on February 15, 2021 to fix a hearing date.

If convicted, the accused persons will pay a fine of half the customs value or imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years under EACCMA, 200.

Imprisonment is for a term not exceeding 3 years in lieu of a fine not exceeding $10,000 (Ksh. 1,101,500) and forfeiture of the goods to the KRA Customs Commissioner.

“The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) strives to detect and disrupt tax evasion schemes and prosecute criminals who engage in smuggling of goods through our borders to ensure that all individuals pay their fair share of customs duty and the right amount of taxes are paid to the government,” the taxman said in a statement.