Authorities have arrested 18 individuals at a warehouse in Eastleigh, Nairobi, after they were found offloading a consignment of fabrics originally declared for export.

The shipment, allegedly in transit from Mombasa Port to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), was intercepted following an operation by detectives monitoring suspected tax fraud activities.

The arrest followed days of surveillance by officers from the elite Operation Support Unit (OSU), who had been tracking a suspected criminal syndicate accused of manipulating export declarations to evade taxes.

Investigators say the trailer transporting the consignment (registration number KBT 641G/ZD3436) was observed altering its plates to KBY 548K at Machakos Junction, where tampering with the Regional Electronic Cargo Tracking System (RECTS) was also detected.

Detectives noted the truck made multiple stops around Nairobi, seemingly to assess whether the system breach had been flagged. The vehicle then proceeded to Mai Mahiu, where additional modifications, including placement of stickers to conceal its identity, were carried out.

The trailer later diverted to Eastleigh, stopping at the KBS parking yard, where offloading began. At that moment, law enforcement officers moved in, arresting 18 suspects, among them the driver, Meshack Leo and two warehouse owners, Yusuf Mohammed Noor and Abdi Nasir Dur.

Preliminary findings suggest that the same network had previously diverted five similar shipments linked to the same consignee, identified as Kasdama Kasongo Francois of the DRC. Authorities believe the suspects are part of a broader operation that manipulates transit cargo by compromising officials responsible for monitoring RECTS seals along transit routes.

The scheme involves declaring imported textiles as goods in transit, avoiding the high taxation imposed on such items. This practice results in substantial revenue losses for the government. Investigators are processing the scene as inquiries continue.