Agency intercepts Sh16m raw nuts destined for China

• On Tuesday, the Horticultural Crops Development Authority (HCDA) intercepted raw macademia nuts worth more than Sh16 million which were destined for China.
• The nuts – packed in 50-kilogramme bags in four 40-foot containers – were hidden in a go-down under construction near Miritini, HCDA coast regional manager Jonnes Mwandawiro said.
• Police officers also discovered that two of the 20-foot containers in the same premises, contained pieces of sandal wood stuck in gunny bags. Sandal wood, an indigenous tree with medicinal value is protected and its harvesting prohibited.
• The ministry of Agriculture banned export of raw nuts in 2009 to protect local processors but smugglers, who target Far East countries mainly China, continue to export hundreds of tonnes each year.

Illegal export of raw nuts has intensified with the onset of the low season, indicating that smugglers mopped up hundreds of tonnes during the harvest season.

On Tuesday, the Horticultural Crops Development Authority (HCDA) intercepted raw macademia nuts worth more than Sh16 million which were destined for China.

The nuts – packed in 50-kilogramme bags in four 40-foot containers – were hidden in a go-down under construction near Miritini, HCDA coast regional manager Jonnes Mwandawiro said.

“We followed the trucks that were carrying the cargo after they left Thika. We discovered that the nuts had been stuffed in these containers at this place,” Mr Mwandawiro said.

Police officers also discovered that two of the 20-foot containers in the same premises, contained pieces of sandal wood stuck in gunny bags. Sandal wood, an indigenous tree with medicinal value is protected and its harvesting prohibited.

Mr Mwandawiro said he would inform the relevant government agencies to take action.

The ministry of Agriculture banned export of raw nuts in 2009 to protect local processors but smugglers, who target Far East countries mainly China, continue to export hundreds of tonnes each year.

According to Nuts Processors Association of Kenya (NatPAK) consultant Charles Muigai, exporters use various tactics to beat the embargo including buying and hoarding them until shipment is favourable.

“They have started to ship them out now since they do not expect a lot of surveillance during the low season. Our team is alert and we are on the trail of others,” Mr Muigai said on phone from Australia where he is attending an international conference on macademia.
He said raw nuts smugglers are believed to be holding more than 1,000 tonnes of macademia, which are hidden in various parts of Nairobi and Mombasa ready for export.
Mr Mwandawiro said export of raw nuts to China had increased over the the past two years with 400 tonnes worth Sh1.6 billion shipped out last year.
Mr Muigai said the HCDA surveillance unit was establishing the owners of the consignment with a view to take them to court. Processors in China give exporters a 25 per cent incentive which is fuelling the trade.