Suspected mastermind of Bungoma illegal sugar repackaging syndicate arraigned

A suspected mastermind behind an illegal sugar repackaging syndicate has been arraigned before the Bungoma Law Courts, barely a day after detectives raided premises linked to the operation and arrested him.

According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), Paul Mwangi was arrested during an intelligence-led crackdown on suspected uncustomed goods at Bukembe Shopping Centre in Bungoma South Sub-County.

He was charged with four offences relating to the possession of uncustomed and excisable goods, possession of counterfeit goods, as well as the repackaging and production of counterfeit goods in the course of trade.

Mwangi pleaded not guilty to all the charges and was released on a bond of Ksh.800,000, with one contact person. The case will be mentioned on September 14, 2026.

Further, officers from the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) joined the investigative team to verify the recovered sugar and determine whether it meets the required standards and regulations.

The assessment could result in additional charges if investigators establish further offences.

The charges stem from an operation conducted on Tuesday, during which detectives recovered 200 bags of 50kg West Valley Sugar and 1,700 empty 50kg bags bearing the same brand.

Detectives also recovered 10 empty 50kg bags branded Mayuge Sugar, a Ugandan sugar brand, as well as nine bags of sugar that had already been repackaged in Chinese-branded sacks.

Detectives later searched a godown owned by Mwangi, located south of Bukembe Shopping Centre, where they recovered another 98 bags of 50kg West Valley Sugar and 1,700 empty bags bearing the West Valley Sugar brand.