𝗜𝗟𝗟𝗘𝗚𝗔𝗟 𝗦𝗨𝗚𝗔𝗥 𝗥𝗘𝗣𝗔𝗖𝗞𝗔𝗚𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗦𝗨𝗦𝗣𝗘𝗖𝗧 𝗔𝗥𝗥𝗔𝗜𝗚𝗡𝗘𝗗

A suspected mastermind behind an illegal sugar repackaging syndicate uncovered in Bungoma has been arraigned before the Bungoma Law Courts, barely a day after detectives busted the syndicate at Bukembe Shopping Centre.

Paul Mwangi, who was arrested during an intelligence-led crackdown on uncustomed goods, was today charged with four offences relating to the possession of uncustomed and excisable goods, possession of counterfeit goods, and the repackaging and production of counterfeit goods in the course of trade.

The charges stem from yesterday’s operation, during which detectives recovered 200 bags of 50kg West Valley Sugar, alongside 1,700 empty 50kg West Valley Sugar bags, 10 empty bags bearing the Mayuge Sugar brand and nine bags of sugar already repackaged in Chinese-branded sacks.

Mwangi pleaded not guilty to all the charges and was granted a bond of Sh800,000, with one contact person. The case will come up for mention on September 14, 2026.

Meanwhile, detectives have widened the probe, with officers from the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) joining the investigative team to verify the recovered sugar and establish compliance with applicable standards and regulations. The assessment could lead to additional charges, where warranted.

The investigation remains active as detectives follow the trail, working to unravel the wider network behind the illicit trade, identify other persons involved and establish the distribution channels of the repackaged sugar.

#FichuaKwaDCI. Call 0800 722 203 (Toll-free) or WhatsApp at 0709 570 000 to report anonymously. Usiogope!