In a significant crackdown on illicit activities, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has successfully apprehended five individuals involved in the illegal trade of contraband milk powder. The arrests were made on Saturday in Eastleigh, Nairobi, as part of a meticulously planned undercover operation conducted by the investigative body.
According to the DCI, their officers posed as buyers and engaged in a transaction with the suspects, agreeing to purchase milk products amounting to Ksh.815,000. The officers, equipped with only a down payment, skillfully negotiated with the suspects for additional time to secure the balance. This strategic move allowed the DCI’s investigative teams to swiftly intervene, leading to the apprehension of the suspects.
During the operation, law enforcement authorities recovered 25 kg of cream milk powder bearing the FRESH DAIRY brand, a product of Brookside Uganda, concealed in sacks. Additionally, 77 containers of APTAMIL breast milk product from the United Kingdom, each weighing 800gm, were seized. Shockingly, some of the confiscated milk powder was found to be contaminated with fungi.
Further investigations are currently underway to identify and apprehend the suspected ringleader orchestrating this illicit trade. This arrest comes just two days after the DCI nabbed two other suspects in possession of a substantial 32.5 tonnes of suspected contraband milk powder at a godown located along the Eastern Bypass.
The main suspect in this case has been identified as Joseph Waweru, while Ali Noor is reported to be a broker facilitating the illegal transactions. The items seized from the godown include 181 bags branded as Fresh Dairy products from Brookside Uganda, 421 bags branded as Gardo products from New Zealand, and 485 bags of Non-Dairy Creamer from China. Additionally, 56 bags bearing the SAMA brand from New Zealand, 6 bags labeled as Lato products from Uganda, and 289 bags of maize corn starch from India were among the confiscated items.
Both Joseph Waweru and Ali Noor are currently in police custody, awaiting arraignment on charges related to their involvement in the contraband milk powder trade. The DCI’s swift and decisive action underscores the government’s commitment to combating illegal activities that pose a threat to public health and safety.
As investigations continue, authorities remain vigilant in their efforts to dismantle such illicit networks and bring those responsible to justice, sending a clear message that such activities will not be tolerated within the nation’s borders.