A suspected mastermind linked to an illegal sugar repackaging operation uncovered in Bungoma has been arraigned before the Bungoma Law Courts, just a day after detectives dismantled the alleged syndicate at Bukembe Shopping Centre.
Paul Mwangi appeared in court after being arrested during an intelligence-led operation targeting suspected uncustomed goods. He faces four charges involving the possession of uncustomed and excisable goods, possession of counterfeit goods, and the alleged repackaging and production of counterfeit goods for commercial purposes.
The charges followed a raid conducted on the suspect’s premises, where detectives recovered a substantial quantity of sugar and packaging materials.
During the operation, officers seized 200 bags of 50kg West Valley Sugar, 1,700 empty 50kg West Valley Sugar bags, 10 empty bags marked with the Mayuge Sugar brand and nine bags containing sugar that had allegedly been repackaged in sacks carrying Chinese branding.
Mwangi denied all the allegations in court and pleaded not guilty to each of the four charges.
The court subsequently released him on a bond of Sh800,000, with one contact person required as part of the bond terms. The matter will return to court for mention on September 14, 2026.
Meanwhile, investigators have expanded the probe into the alleged syndicate, with officers from the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) joining the investigation.
The KEBS team is expected to examine the recovered sugar and determine whether it meets the required quality and safety standards. The findings could result in additional charges if any further violations are established.
Detectives are also pursuing leads that could help uncover the wider network behind the suspected illegal trade.
“The investigation remains active as detectives follow the trail,” the Directorate of Criminal Investigations said, noting that officers are working to identify other individuals involved and establish the distribution channels used to move the allegedly repackaged sugar.
Investigators are expected to continue tracing the source of the products and determining the full extent of the suspected operation as the court case proceeds.
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