No contaminated sugar released to market - logistics firm Mitchell Cotts
Operations Director James Rarieya says the 46 containers they received from Mauritius remain stored at their warehouse as they await directions from authorities.
Logistics company Mitchell Cotts on Monday said no contaminated sugar has been released to the market, days after a haul of about 1,112 tonnes of the commodity, reportedly valued at Sh214 million, was intercepted in a warehouse in Mombasa.
Operations Director James Rarieya told a press briefing at their offices that the 46 containers they received from Mauritius remain stored at their warehouse as they await directions from authorities.
“From the beginning, Mitchell Cotts was nominated to receive the sugar. When they arrived in the country last October 9, onboard ship MSC Eagle, a number of the containers were damaged,” Rarieya explained.
He said 13 damaged containers were found with 8,025 bags of sugar and that the remaining 19,000 bags were undergoing testing.
Mitchell Cotts Operations Director James Rarieya address the press at their business premises in Mombasa County on February 19, 2024. (Photo: Farhiya Hussein)
The operations boss said that after the containers arrived at the port, they had to notify the shipper to send a representative.
In December, they received the go-ahead to move the cargo to their facility, he said, adding that in January, the Kenya Revenue Authority approved the process of separating the damaged goods.
“None of the sugar has been released to the public. The process took a long time because there are maritime laws that need to be followed if cargo is damaged. I clarify that the cargo left Mauritius while in good condition. I do not understand why people are saying it was contaminated. It was not but it is damaged,” he said.
“I do not know the value of cargo. I am a handler so I do not know about value addition," he added.
A letter signed by Mauritius Sugar Syndicate Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Devesh Dukhira stated, “Reference is made to the subject shipment for the account of buyer Elavol Company Ltd, containing 1,112 metric tons of brown cane sugar loaded on board MSC Eagle. The vessel was alleged to have drenched in water on the high seas."
Dukhira further said the matter was referred to their insurance company, WKW ref 471/23/64243, and that an investigation and claims were being processed.
“As per international best practices, a joint survey was undertaken by the Kenya Bureau of Standard (KEBS), Port Health, insurance loss adjusters, the consignee and KRA between January 11 and 15 to determine any damage that occurred to the sugar during the incident.”
The syndicate said it nominated individuals it identified as Rehema Badi Mwajirani and Dickson Akeno as representatives in Kenya to facilitate the insurance salvage process on its behalf.
“They have also been engaged to proceed with salvage of the sugar which is found to be fit for direct human consumption as requested by the insurance company, and also to seek regulatory approval to set aside for destruction any sugar found unfit for direct human consumption.”
The shipper had advisedthat any sugar deemed fit for direct human consumption undergo testing by KEBS and Port Health before it is sold to the general public.
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