Kenyan customs seize smuggled ethanol

The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) customs and border control unit has discovered smuggled ethanol declared as imported spaghetti at the Inland Container Depot Nairobi (ICDN).

The consignment, imported from the United Arab Emirates with an assessed tax valued of more than $148,440, had been concealed in four 20-foot containers that last month arrived at the Kenya Ports Authority-operated ICDN.

Kevin Safari, KRA customs and border control commissioner, said his officers on routine surveillance duties successfully identified and isolated the contraband ethanol.

The 57,600 liters of ethanol had been filled in 288 drums before being loaded into the four shipping containers.

Safari said, through ICDN's cargo x-ray scanners, the team had noted discrepancies that led to a physical inspection of the containers on Wednesday.

"The officers at ICDN in conjunction with the team at the integrated scanner management solution command center, positively identified the concealed goods in the containers," Safari said. "The containers imported by Erikan Holdings Limited had been masked with a total of 10,600 packages of spaghetti."

Following the discovery, KRA officers in conjunction with the directorate of criminal investigations, launched a probe into the importers and clearing agent.

As part of its corporate transformation, KRA has implemented an integrated scanner management solution, which is part of the ongoing rollout of an integrated customs management system.

It connects all cargo scanners at ports of entry to a central control center at KRA headquarters where decisions are coordinated.

This is part of KRA's revenue enhancement initiatives geared at providing a 100 percent non-intrusive verification of imported cargo.