Revenue detectives seize explosives at border post
Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) officers seized 1,000 pieces of explosive detonators at Taveta border, according to KRA Acting Regional Co-ordinator Southern Region, John Bisonga.
Three suspects have been arrested in connection with the incident.
Bisonga said the detonators were seized at Mwakitau along the Taveta-Mombasa highway by Customs officers based at the Taveta-Holili One-Stop Border Post (OSBP) on Friday evening.
He said the suspects were transporting the devices in a truck alongside tobacco when they were intercepted by the KRA team, backed by Administration Police officers attached to the OSBP, while on routine patrols at around 5.30pm, a kilometre away from Maktau roadblock.
“The consignment in the vehicle had been declared at the border point as raw tobacco from Moshi, Tanzania and was destined to Mombasa.
However, on being stopped and upon a search by Customs officers, and checking the cabin, the officers found two packages of Supreme Plain detonators in the vehicle,” stated Bisonga adding the truck was escorted back to the OSBP.
Upon being interrogated, the driver claimed the detonators were handed over to him at Taveta town to be delivered to the owner at Mwatate.
A joint verification by the multi agency team from KRA, Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and officers from the National Police Service confirmed the parcel contained 1,000 pieces of detonators, which had been packed in 10 boxes containing 100 pieces each.
The coordinator said the vehicle and the detonators were detained and deposited in the Customs warehouse.
“The suspects, including a person who presented himself at the station with a mining permit and claiming to be the owner of the detonators, the driver of the truck and a turn boy who are both Tanzanian nationals, were arrested and handed over to the Anti- Terrorism Police Unit,” stated Bisonga.
The suspects will be charged with contravening the Explosive Act.
Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) officers seized 1,000 pieces of explosive detonators at Taveta border, according to KRA Acting Regional Co-ordinator Southern Region, John Bisonga.
Three suspects have been arrested in connection with the incident.
Bisonga said the detonators were seized at Mwakitau along the Taveta-Mombasa highway by Customs officers based at the Taveta-Holili One-Stop Border Post (OSBP) on Friday evening.
He said the suspects were transporting the devices in a truck alongside tobacco when they were intercepted by the KRA team, backed by Administration Police officers attached to the OSBP, while on routine patrols at around 5.30pm, a kilometre away from Maktau roadblock.
“The consignment in the vehicle had been declared at the border point as raw tobacco from Moshi, Tanzania and was destined to Mombasa.
However, on being stopped and upon a search by Customs officers, and checking the cabin, the officers found two packages of Supreme Plain detonators in the vehicle,” stated Bisonga adding the truck was escorted back to the OSBP.
Upon being interrogated, the driver claimed the detonators were handed over to him at Taveta town to be delivered to the owner at Mwatate.
A joint verification by the multi agency team from KRA, Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and officers from the National Police Service confirmed the parcel contained 1,000 pieces of detonators, which had been packed in 10 boxes containing 100 pieces each.
The coordinator said the vehicle and the detonators were detained and deposited in the Customs warehouse.
“The suspects, including a person who presented himself at the station with a mining permit and claiming to be the owner of the detonators, the driver of the truck and a turn boy who are both Tanzanian nationals, were arrested and handed over to the Anti- Terrorism Police Unit,” stated Bisonga.
The suspects will be charged with contravening the Explosive Act.
