Detectives drawn from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) have busted a suspected cargo smuggling and tax evasion syndicate involving top officials at the port of Mombasa.
According to preliminary findings following investigations at the Kenya Ports Authority between June and September, the officers unearthed a theft scandal executed by port managers in cahoots with importers and container freight stations.
In a letter addressed to the National Treasury CS dated November 11, the detectives from the financial investigations unit and cybercrime forensics have named KPA general manager operations Sudi Mwasinago and Evans Akunav, acting principal officer- ship operations, as the prime suspects.
The detectives are now recommending the immediate suspension of the managers until investigations are completed.
The letter is signed by the DCI head of investigations John Gachomo and copied to Transport CS and PS, Treasury PS and acting KPA managing director.
It further warns that the continued stay of the two managers would interfere with crucial forensic evidence.
“They are prime suspects and bear the greatest responsibility according to the evidence in our possession. Until now, the two still have access to the material and data under investigation. There exists a potential risk that the suspects will interfere with crucial forensic evidence and their continuous stay in office will be highly prejudicial to the investigations and could render the entire process a nullity” advises Gachomo.
Following the revelations, a further in-depth probe covering areas that have been identified prone to abuse will be undertaken in due course.
“It is evident that there exists deliberate illegal activity of container smuggling and tax evasion executed by port managers in cahoots with importers and some Container Freight Stations (CFS). A further in-depth investigation covering areas that have been identified prone to abuse has been recommended and will ensue” said the sleuths.
The latest scam comes in the wake of the mysterious disappearance of containers seized in 2019.
During a verification exercise this week, a parliamentary committee on Trade and Industry was shocked to discover 88 out of 139 containers of cooking oil declared unfit for human consumption missing from the freight stations.
The cargo had been flagged by a government multi-agency team.
The MPs have called on the DCI to speed up their investigations to unravel how the condemned oil ended up in the local market and prosecute the culprits behind the theft syndicate.
The Mombasa port is a vital artery for East African trade, handling fuel and other imports for landlocked neighbours, including Uganda and South Sudan.
