KRA intercepts 5,000 litres of illicit ethanol worth Ksh.14M near SGR corridor

The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has intercepted 5,000 litres of suspected illicit ethanol in an overnight enforcement operation near the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) area in Nairobi.

According to KRA, detectives acting on a tip-off from the public followed intelligence indicating the movement of illegal products, that lorries suspected to be transporting ethanol had been sighted within a yard near the SGR corridor.

“The officers found that the lorries had already departed. However, they recovered the illicit ethanol which had been offloaded and stored within the yard,” KRA stated.

A total of 20 drums of ethanol were seized, each with a capacity of 250 litres, translating to 5,000 litres.

A Toyota Fielder believed to have been used by the owners of the consignment was also impounded at the scene.

KRA said the vehicle had been fitted with gadgets believed to be tracking system jammers, suggesting attempts to evade surveillance.

Preliminary assessments show that the ethanol would have yielded about 48,200 bottles valued at Ksh.14.46 million if released into the market.

The vehicle is valued at Ksh.1.8 million, bringing the total value of seized goods to Ksh.16.26 million.

KRA also said the seizure prevented potential tax losses amounting to Ksh.7.42 million.

The seized ethanol and vehicle are currently detained as investigations continue.