KRA officials had a hard time with the public in Garissa during an exercise in which millions worth of illegal products were destroyed.
Police had hard term in controlling members of the public who milled around the site with looters trying to snatch the good but all in vain.
A bulldozer first destroyed completely the items before officials dosed with paraffin and set them on fire.
Goods worth more than sh. 9 million were destroyed.
According to Garissa County commissioner Meru Mwangi who oversaw the exercise at the Garissa dumpsite, the illicit goods were intercepted from smugglers by security officers at various entry points on diverse dates.
“The goods were seized during the ongoing multi-agency crackdown on illicit goods. Most of them were concealed to evade payment of tax (import duty), while some were found to be counterfeit or substandard products,” Mwangi said.
Mwangi said that stern action will be taken against anyone found smuggling contraband goods into the country to create unnecessary competition in the market.
“These kind of products are not even fit for human consumption. That is why we are destroying them to send a clear message to all those dealing with illegal goods that their days are numbered,” he said.
“The goods had been smuggled into the country from neighbouring Somali,” he added.
Some of the items destroyed included 10 tonnes of sugar worth Ksh 908,300, 587 cartons of milk powder worth sh5,987,400, cartons of coconut oil worth Ksh 158, 400, used duvets and other assorted goods items.