Fake goods worth about Sh100 million were on Friday impounded at the port of Mombasa amid a government crackdown on the illicit trade that has flooded the Kenyan market with fakes.
The goods, including sugar worth Sh30 million, shoes (Sh40 million) and tobacco (Sh20 million), are at a go down in Changamwe awaiting destruction as their owners are expected to be prosecuted.
Some 500 tonnes of sugar was seized at the port allegedly packed in 'Kakira Sugar' bags from Uganda.
The counterfeit tobacco, bearing the Bringi Filter brand, was imported from South Africa and is at the Kenya Ports Authority customs warehouse in two 20-foot containers.
Senior port officials on Friday told journalists in Mombasa that 90 percent of all the imported goods at the harbour come from China and India.
Anti-Counterfeit Agency officials according to Business Daily on Friday told Industrialisation and Enterprise Development Cabinet Secretary Adan Mohammed that counterfeits sneak through consolidated cargo.
"Consolidated cargo is increasing by the day and as a result, counterfeit goods sneak through. Verification of consolidated is a nightmare for all of us as law enforcement agencies due to lack of manpower, machinery, timing among other aspects," Anti-Counterfeit Agency Coast regional boss Ibrahim Bule said.
However, Mohammed said all transit goods passing through the Kenyan harbour must be subjected to a thorough inspection to impound counterfeit goods.