DCI Trailing High-Ranking Officials in Poisonous Sugar Mystery
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) is looking into the mysterious disappearance of condemned sugar from a go-down in Thika, and they have their eyes on a Cabinet Secretary and a Member of Parliament as potential suspects.
The two are among a string of suspects who are suspected of working together to sell the shipment, which had previously been deemed unsafe for consumption by humans in the year 2018.
It has been two weeks since officials from the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) and the DCI discovered that the shipment had vanished without a trace.
The Department of Criminal Investigation is having no success in tracing the shipment of poisonous sugar, and there is a growing concern that it may already be on store shelves as a result.
Detectives working for the DCI have concluded that the sugar had already found a ready market even before it left the Port of Mombasa and that influential people were behind the dirty deal.
GossipA2Z has obtained a trail that details how 20,000 bags of poisonous sugar left Mombasa and made their way to a go-down in Makongeni, Thika. This trail also explains why sugar that was deemed unsafe to consume in 2018 may already be available for purchase in stores.
During our visit to Vinepack Industries in Thika, where the toxic sugar was rumored to have been stored, we discovered a calm atmosphere with only one security guard manning the establishment.
The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) conducted a search warrant at this location in September of the previous year. Alleging that the business was operating illegally, manufacturing fake alcoholic beverages, and evading taxes.
ALSO READ: KEBS Staff Reshuffled Following Ruto’s Suspensions in Sugar Scandal
Officials from the DCI are in a race against time. To solve the mystery of the missing consignment of sugar. Which includes determining when it left Mombasa. In what condition it was transported, how it landed, and where it was stored before it vanished into thin air.
The multi-agency team was called in on the 12th of April, 2023 to coordinate the release of the condemned sugar that was held by KRA. The sugar was supposed to be converted into ethanol for industrial use as soon as it arrived in Nairobi.
On the same day, all 20,000 bags of the seized sugar were shipped to Thika. So that Vinepack Industries could distill it. Vinepack Industries is located in Kenya.
According to our best estimates, it took a total of eight days to process the shipment at the Port of Mombasa. Send it on its way to Thika, and offload the sugar so that it could be stored.
The consignment was received in Thika on April 20th, 2023 by a multi-agency team based in Nairobi. While there, they were witnesses to the disarming of the cargo. The removal of the seals, and the offloading into go-downs that were contracted by the distiller, Vinepack.
It has recently come to light that Vinepack hired Kings Commodities Limited. Located in Thika, to be in charge of storing the sugar.
According to the letter that was sent out by KEBS regarding the process of converting the sugar into ethanol. KEBS was supposed to be present alongside officials from NEMA. To make certain that all of the sugar was converted into ethanol and was not used for any other purpose.
ALSO READ: KEMSA Clean-Up: New Board Takes Charge, Says CS Nakhumicha
In addition to this, KEBS was tasked with collecting samples of the ethanol that was produced for analysis at their accredited labs. With the end goal of ensuring that it is up to the necessary standards.
When KEBS officers, the multi-agency teams, and the DCI returned to the go-down in Thika on May 4, 2023. To begin the process of distillation, the go-down was empty; the 20,000 bags of contaminated sugar had mysteriously vanished.
It has been 14 days since the consignment of contaminated sugar was reported missing. And investigators have not been able to locate it. However, some of the officials who have been suspended have given statements to the DCI regarding the sugar scandal.
KEBS held a crisis meeting on Thursday in which a leadership reshuffle was implemented. Esther Ngari was appointed as Acting Managing Director for six months. And Bernard Nguyo was appointed as the new Acting Director of Quality Assurance and Inspection. Both of these positions will remain in effect until further notice.
DCI Trailing High-Ranking Officials in Poisonous Sugar Mystery
HEY READER. PLEASE SUPPORT THIS SITE BY CLICKING ADS. DON’T FORGET TO HIT THE NOTIFICATION BELL FOR MORE UPDATES AROUND THE GLOBE.
