Illegal depot with 60,000 litres of petroleum products discovered in Bungoma

By Peter Ochieng

An illegal depot containing petroleum products has been discovered in Bukembe, Bungoma County.

The depot was unearthed in an operation led by the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) officers.

KRA in an announcement of Friday said approximately 60,000 litres of petroleum products were found inside a grounded storage tank.

KRA Commissioner David Yego who led the operation said three petroleum delivery products found at the venue were impounded.

“Three petroleum delivery trucks with fuel found at the site were also impounded. Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) officers carried out tests and ascertained the contents and the quantities of the petroleum products to be 55,000 litres of kerosene and 4,000 litres of gasoline contained in the storage tank and delivery trucks," he said.

“The discovery followed an intelligence-led operation involving heightened surveillance activities by KRA officers targeting unscrupulous traders engaged in diversion and handling of petroleum products without requisite licences from the licensing agencies,” added Yego.

He said three people are under investigations for committing offences under various sections of the East African Community Customs Management Act, 2004 (EACCMA).

They include interfering with goods under customs control and being in possession of goods meant for export.

“A total of Sh3.4 million tax loss was averted through this operation. KRA shall undertake legal enforcement action upon the conclusion of the investigations against the persons linked to the fraud which include but are not limited to a fine of a sum equal to fifty per cent of the dutiable value of the goods," said Yego.

The arrests come on the backdrop of high fuel prices, with a litre of super petrol, kerosene and diesel currently retailing at over Sh200