The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) have opened investigations into a suspected container smuggling at the Port of Mombasa.
This comes after reports that traders are said to be colluding with corrupt port staff to have containers released through a manual system, which allows for cargo to exit the port without taxes paid.
In a letter, DCI wrote to Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) acting managing director, John Mwangemi, asking the him to provide details of the owners of all containers that have passed through the port in the last seven months.
“To enable us to successfully finalise our investigations we request your good office to facilitate our investigators to get (these documents),” read the DCI’s letter.
Further, the DCI wants records of tax paid Kenya revenue Authority (KRA) on all cargo during the same period.
The investigators are also seeking a list of containers that were cleared manually from the port from January and registrations of vehicles that have hauled cargo from the facility since February.
Containers are expected to be cleared through an online system dubbed Kilindini Waterfront Automation System (Kwatos), which was installed in 2008 to curb tax evasion.
The containers cleared manually are later fed into the Kwatos system to indicate they remain within the KPA premises.
Now, the DCI is seeking data captured on the Kwatos portal and all containers that arrived at the Mombasa port from February 2021.
Gachomo said his officers will also be visiting the port to record statements of two senior managers who are also suspects in the matter.
“Kindly take the necessary administrative action to preserve the integrity of Kwatos system, which is holding important data at the centre of this investigation,” Gachomo said.
