Customs officers at the Malaba One Stop Border Post (OSBP) on Sunday intercepted a drug shipment and smuggled ethanol in two separate operations.

Officers discovered a saloon car parked at Koteko, about 10 kilometres from the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) office near the Kenya-Uganda border.

The tax authority said the vehicle sped off as the customs officials approached, leading to a minor collision with a KRA pick-up truck.

The driver of the car fled the scene on foot.

“Subsequent investigation revealed Cannabis Sativa: Two bags containing 520 rolls of dry plant material, with an estimated street value of Ksh. 520,000 were found in the car,” officials said.

The case is being investigated by the Anti-Narcotics Units in Malaba.

In a separate operation, the KRA customs officials at Lwakhakha station, acting on intelligence, intercepted 308 20-litre jerricans of suspected ethanol.

The goods were being transported in a truck.

“The items have been deposited at Malaba OSBP and will undergo further action under the Customs Law,” officials said.