Busted! Plastic bags found in Mombasa

Police have today found 1.7 tonnes of plastic bags in Mombasa County. The plastic bags were found at the Mwembe Tayari market and are believed to have been transported from Tanzania. The plastic bags were in 17 bales and concealed using biodegradable bags in sacks.

According to the Head of the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) in Mombasa, Stephen Wambua, the banned carrier bags were seized at Mwembe Tayari area while being offloaded from a bus that had arrived from Tanzania at the Simba Coach offices. Mr. Wambua said that the officers were alerted about cargo being transported into the country by a bus company using the Mombasa-Dar es Salaam route.

“We arrived at the bus station at around 8pm on Friday evening and impounded the 17 bags. We waited for about three hours but the owner did not show up,” said Mr. Wambua.

Head of the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) in Mombasa Stephen Wambua said the banned carrier bags were seized at Mwembe Tayari area while being offloaded from a bus that had arrived from Tanzania.

The ban on plastic bags in the country came after the Environment and Lands Court made a ruling that imposed the ban. Judges Samson Okong’o, Antonina Bor and Benard Eboso declined to quash the gazette notice which effected the ban on plastic bags in August last year.

According to the judges, the government did not violate any rights in imposing the ban and there was no evidence to prove that there was increased cost of packaging or a health risk as a result.

While the bags were taken to the central police station, the NEMA boss now says that police are on the hunt for the suspect who imported the bags from the neighboring country.

“But police have launched manhunt for the suspect. He imported the banned consignment into the country,”said Mr. Wambua.

He also urged bus operators to inspect the luggage they are transporting.

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