Siginon Freight distances itself from Sh570m ivory haul seized in Singapore

NAIROBI: Siginon Freight Company has distanced itself from a Sh570 million haul of ivory seized in Singapore on Tuesday disguised as tea in transit to Vietnam.

Siginon Managing Director Meshack Kipturgo said they received tea blending instructions from the shipper, Almasi Chai Kenya through the exporting company, Potential Quality Services (PQS) in one of their warehouses in Mombasa where the container was filled with the tea for export.

“Tea blending was done and the entire consignment of blended tea was loaded onto three 20-foot containers. The containers were loaded to full capacity and sealed,” Mr Kipturgo said.

He believes the blended tea was replaced by ivory away from their warehouse because the entire tea blending and loading process was done in a secure warehouse environment and effectively captured by their closed circuit television cameras.

He said as is procedure, Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) customs export entries were done on behalf of the shipper Almasi Chai (Kenya), in the KRA online system.

“The entries for the containers were approved giving us the permission to release the containers for export to the Port of Mombasa,” said Kipturgo. He said the containers were sealed and handed over to Potential Quality Supplies contracted trucks.

“The exporting company brought his own truck hence Siginon trucks were not used in transportation of the tea containers to the Port of Mombasa. At no time did the Siginon warehouses or staff come in contact with the said illegal ivory haul,” he added.

He said the company was ready to help police and KRA investigate the matter.

“As a company we are supporting all the investigations by the relevant authorities and we have further provided all the supporting export documents and the photographic evidence to the respective investigative authorities,” he said.

Cartels use Kenya as a transit point because the Port of Mombasa is fast moving and the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport is one of the only three airports in Africa with direct flights to Asia where their consignments head to.

KRA officials have in the past been accused of colluding with smugglers to provide safe passage for the illegal ivory. On Wednesday, KRA Commissioner General John Njiraini suspended the officer who handled the suspect shipment.

“We are evaluating the roles of other KRA port-based staff and appropriate action will be taken as the relevant details emerge,” Mr Njiraini said.