Six trucks impounded, 13,000 cartons of contraband Lato milk nabbed in Eldoret

Detectives from the Anti-contraband and counterfeit goods unit on Saturday nabbed six lorries in Uasin Gishu County ferrying Lato milk believed to have been illegally shipped into the country.

The lorries were found carrying 13,000 cartons of milk estimated to be worth Ksh.7 million.

Two of the trucks from Uganda were impounded on the Eldoret– Kitale Road with one of them carrying 3,200 cartons and the other 3,000 cartons of milk.

The drivers of the said lorries the led detectives to a godown by the name Musty Distribution Limited along Kapsoya road in Eldoret township where more trucks with the contraband milk were found.

At the godown, two trucks were nabbed; one carrying 3200 cartons of Lato milk from Uganda and the other 3,600.

The other truck was impounded on the Mayoni–Busia Road carrying 200 bags of 25kg whole milk powder and 800 bags of 25kgs skimmed milk powder all originating from Uganda.

The lorries were escorted to the DCI headquarters for further police action with the drivers being detained.

According to police sources, it is believed that unscrupulous traders seeking to evade tax have been smuggling milk into the country and branding it as Lato, a move that has brought losses to Ugandan-based Pearl Dairies Limited, the producer of Lato milk.