Detectives have apprehended five suspects in an ongoing crackdown against contraband milk products.
In a statement, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) said the covert operation aims to dismantle criminal syndicates responsible for flooding the market with substandard and harmful milk products.
"As the crackdown on contraband milk products continues, five more suspects have been arrested today at Eastleigh in Nairobi and several recoveries made," the statement read.
The DCI revealed that the operation was set in motion after undercover officers identified Abdullahi Mohamed, a notorious broker, who had struck a deal to sell 50 bags of milk powder, each weighing 25 kilograms, at a unit price of Ksh16,300.
The transaction trail led the investigators to Halgan Store along Captain Mungai Street off 4th Street Eastleigh.
With only a down payment in hand, the officers skillfully engaged the sellers, buying time to call in the action team for support.
The suspects were then apprehended at the scene
DCI revealed that among the seized contraband were 25-kilogram bags of cream milk powder labelled as 'Fresh Dairy', purportedly a product of Brookside Uganda and the packaging of these products was found to be in a deplorable condition.
Additionally, 77 containers, each weighing 800 grams, of 'Aptamil' breast milk products from the United Kingdom were confiscated, with some containers found to contain fungi.
Further discoveries included 20 containers, each weighing 400 grams, of 'Nestle Nan Optirro' products from Mexico.
The total value of the intercepted goods reached Ksh815,000, the full amount having been paid by the "buyers" before the action team intervened.
"Folding sleeves for the assignment, detectives identified Abdullahi Mohamed, a notorious broker who secured a deal to sell them 50 bags of milk powder each weighing 25 kg for Sh16,300/= per bag. They were directed to Halgan Store located along Captain Mungai Street off 4th street Eastleigh where loaders were waiting to start the job, but not before the "buyers" paid the full amount of the agreed Sh815,000," the statement added.
The DCI revealed that ongoing investigations are focused on identifying the main suspect behind this illicit operation.
