Kenya’s Anti-Counterfeit Authority (ACA), in collaboration with a multi-agency security team, has intercepted and seized counterfeit sugar and cooking oil valued at Ksh10 million that were being smuggled into the country from Somalia.
According to the ACA, the operation was conducted on Wednesday, August 20, at the Sabaki Security Patrol Point in Malindi, where three lorries loaded with the illegal goods were stopped. The officers arrested eight suspects who were allegedly behind the smuggling syndicate.
Details of the Seizure
The ACA confirmed that the raid led to the confiscation of 676 bags of counterfeit sugar branded under popular names such as Butali and other fake labels, alongside numerous jerricans of substandard cooking oil. The trucks used to ferry the contraband were also impounded.
ACA Executive Director Mbugua Njoroge emphasized that such smuggling operations not only deny Kenya billions in tax revenue but also pose serious risks to public health and national security.
“This seizure is not just about protecting consumers from harmful counterfeit sugar and oil. It is about safeguarding our economy, farmers’ livelihoods, and even our national security. Smuggling directly fuels illicit trade networks that support organized crime and terror groups. We will not allow this,” Njoroge stated.
Economic and Security Impact
Counterfeit goods remain a major economic threat in Kenya. According to ACA, counterfeit trade costs the country over Ksh153 billion annually in lost tax revenue and contributes to the loss of more than 40,000 jobs.
The authority also highlighted the dangers counterfeit products pose to consumers, particularly food items like sugar and cooking oil, which can expose buyers to severe health risks due to contamination and lack of quality control.
Globally, the OECD estimates that counterfeit and pirated goods account for 3.3% of world trade, valued at USD 509 billion. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has further warned that proceeds from counterfeit trade often finance organized crime and extremist networks.
Crackdown on Counterfeit Trade Intensifies
The ACA assured Kenyans that its war on counterfeit products will intensify, citing that in the last year alone, goods worth over Ksh500 million were seized and more than 120 individuals arrested in connection with illicit trade.
This latest bust comes just days after the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) apprehended six suspects in Nairobi’s Ngara area for attempting to circulate counterfeit U.S. dollars. During that operation, detectives recovered 36 bundles of fake currency, black paper resembling banknotes, and other forgery equipment.
The ACA has urged Kenyans to remain vigilant and report suspicious goods in the market to help protect consumers, strengthen the economy, and dismantle criminal cartels benefiting from illicit trade.
