Police impound over 500Kgs of suspected contaminated sugar in Ruaraka

By , K24 Digital
On Wed, 24 May, 2023 09:48 | 2 mins read
Suspected contaminated sugar impounded in Ruaraka, Nairobi. PHOTO/(@DCI_Kenya)Twitter

Police have recovered more than 500 kilograms of suspected toxic sugar in a raid at two separate stores in Ruaraka, Nairobi.

In a statement on Tuesday, May 24, 2023, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) said the suspected contaminated sugar unfit for human consumption was impounded following a tip-off from a member of the public.

Suspected contaminated sugar that was impounded in Ruaraka, Nairobi. PHOTO/(@DCI_Kenya)Twitter

In a raid conducted at a small-scale shop within Riverside area in Ruaraka, police recovered 48 kilograms of sugar and a further consignment of over 500 kilograms at a wholesale shop within the same area.

"This is after a consumer who had earlier bought half a kilo at the retail shop for domestic use, noticed strange pellets and informed officers on patrol," DCI said.

Suspicious sugar impounded in Kisii

The recovery comes days after police impounded another consignment in Kisii that was being repackaged for sale to unsuspecting consumers.

In an operation conducted on Sunday, May 21, a team of officers from the Kenya Police Service and DCI Kenyenya and Magena raided a home of one Tonogo and seized fourteen 50Kg bags, two 25Kg bags of sugar, branded as either Kagera Sugar Company, Diamond Sugar, Sony Sugar, Lugazi and Mara Sugar Company.

Further police impounded 230Kgs of sugar and a number of empty polythene packets labelled Mara Sugar suspected to be used for packaging and three bales of banned polythene paper.

Police said one female suspect only identified as Kemunto was arrested during the operation.

The consignments have been kept as exhibits after samples were obtained and forwarded to the government Chemist for analysis.

"Meanwhile, members of the public are urged to be on the lookout and report to authorities should they come across the suspicious product that could have devastating effects on their health once consumed," DCI cautioned.

The recent raids follow the mysterious disappearance of condemned sugar from a godown in Thika that has seen 27 government officials suspended over laxity.

In a statement on Wednesday, May 17, 2023, Head of Public Service Felix Koskei said the 20,000 bags of condemned sugar had been earmarked for conversion into industrial ethanol.

"The sugar consignment, comprising 20,000 bags (50 kg each), had been imported into the country in the year 2018 and condemned by the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) for lack of expiry date specification.

"KEBS condemned the consignment as unfit for human consumption and directed that the consignment be reshipped and destroyed at the owner's cost," the statement read in part.

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