Illicit cigarette cargo disguised as sunflowers intercepted in Kajiado

A multi-agency team has intercepted a lorry loaded with contraband cigarettes worth over Ksh 50 million on the Namanga-Nairobi Highway. 

The operation, conducted in Kajiado County, targeted the truck at Kimalat along the Kitengela-Namanga road.

The vehicle, a 24-foot lorry bearing registration number KBN 216F, was found transporting over 1,000 cartons of export-only cigarettes. 

Each carton contained 5,000 packets, bringing the total haul to over 5 million individual cigarette packets. Shockingly, the cargo had been fraudulently cleared as "sunflowers" at Namanga Customs, with all documentation stamped to facilitate its entry into the country, despite the availability of scanners to inspect goods at the border.

During a press briefing at Isinya Police Station, Kajiado County Commissioner James Taari expressed deep concern over the ten-year persistence of such illegal activities.

 “This is an illegal business that has been going on for years, and it raises fears that Kenyans may be consuming unsafe goods,” he stated.

The driver of the lorry was apprehended during the operation and is currently detained at Isinya Police Station. 

Authorities have confirmed that he will be arraigned at Kajiado Law Courts.

This seizure highlights ongoing challenges in combating smuggling and the critical need to enhance oversight at border points. 

The multi-agency team’s success underscores the importance of coordinated efforts to curb illicit trade and protect public health.