The Kenyan Agriculture and Food Authority nabs 32 tonnes of smuggled avocados on Tanzania border

Last week, the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) seized 32 tonnes of avocados that were being smuggled to Tanzania as traders seek to evade an export ban now in its second month. AFA’s Horticulture and Crops Directorate (HCD) impounded four lorries at the Namanga border point ferrying the fruits in a crackdown that has shed light on the new methods employed by fresh produce traders to ship the fruit abroad via Tanzania. HCD acting deputy director in charge of regulation and compliance Collins Otieno said it had emerged that once the consignments are in Tanzania, they are exported to other destinations. “The vehicles were full of immature avocados packaged in gunnery and polythene bags, contrary to the regulations,” said Mr Otieno. Read: Molasses prices up 10 times over illegal exports In November last year, the directorate put a temporary ban on sea exports of avocado to allow the fruits to mature. The ban affects the Hass, Pinkerton, Fuerte, and Jumbo avocado varieties ...