Police in Marsabit County have intercepted a consignment of approximately 3,600 litres of cooking oil suspected to have been imported into the country without undergoing the required customs clearance procedures.
According to the National Police Service (NPS), officers stationed at a roadblock acted on credible intelligence and stopped a vehicle travelling from Moyale to Marsabit Town during routine security and compliance checks.
A search of the vehicle led to the discovery of the cooking oil, which officers suspect had been brought into the country in violation of customs regulations.
The driver was escorted to Marsabit Police Station, where officers from the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) conducted further verification and confirmed suspected customs violations. Authorities have since launched the necessary legal and investigative processes.
“Following the discovery, the driver was directed to proceed to Marsabit Police Station under police escort. Officers from the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), Marsabit, were notified and subsequently visited the station, where they confirmed the suspected customs violations. Appropriate legal and investigative processes have since commenced,” NPS said.
The NPS warned that the illegal movement of uncustomed goods poses serious economic, security and public health risks, noting that such products often bypass mandatory quality assurance and safety inspections, making it difficult to verify their safety for consumers.
“Uncustomed goods pose significant economic, security and public health risks. Additionally, such goods often bypass mandatory quality assurance and safety inspections, exposing consumers to products whose standards cannot be verified,” the service noted.
Police further said the illicit trade in uncustomed goods undermines legitimate businesses that comply with tax and regulatory requirements, creates unfair competition and fuels cross-border smuggling and other forms of economic crime.
The National Police Service said it will continue working closely with the Kenya Revenue Authority and other government agencies to curb smuggling and strengthen the fight against illicit trade across the country.
