Some eleven Pakistani rice traders have been arrested by Kenyan authorities in Mombassa on charges of money laundering; terrorist funding, fake passport and visas. Pakistani rice exporters have termed this action a conspiracy against rice trade and urged the govt to ensure immediate release of the traders.
They said that during the investigation, it has been confirmed that they were working legally and have valid visas issued by Kenya. In addition, Pakistan's High Commission in Kenya has also verified and confirmed that all of them have legal passports.
Sources said the Kenya immigration arrested 11 Pakistani rice importers in Mombassa on January 9, 2018 and later on produced them in Mombassa court, which sent all of them behind bars. Ramesh Kumar Essrani, Karan Kumar, Bhojoo Mal, Suneel Kumar, Manosh Kumar, M Tasleem Thakur, Naqash, Haresh, Kuman, Saleem Imtiaz and Sawai are among the arrested persons.
Rafique Suleman, Senior Vice Chairman Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP), said some Indian and local traders in Kenya have hatched a conspiracy against Pakistani rice exporters which resulted in the detention of these Pakistani nationals by Kenyan authorities. "We strongly condemn this shameful act and are in contact with high officials of Pakistan and Kenya to secure the release of these traders," he added.
Rafique said Pakistani exporters were legally working in Kenya for many years. He refuted the charges leveled against Pakistani rice exporters saying that the allegations of money laundering, terrorist funding, fake passport and visas are baseless.
He said since 2011, Pakistan has captured a large share in Kenyan market and presently it is the major rice exporting country to Kenya. Kenya imports around 600,000 tons of rice annually, wherein Pakistan's share is approximately 500,000 tons amounting to $200 million, he added.
He said due to superb working of Pakistani rice exporters, Indian traders have lost their business as well as market share in Kenya and become rivals. They hatched a conspiracy and levelled false allegations against Pakistani exporters.
Rafique said the Kenya government earns more than $100 million revenue in the shape of taxes and import duty with the help of import of Pakistani rice. Pakistani rice exporters are fulfilling more than 90 percent of Kenya's food requirement.
This situation will badly hit rice exports to Kenya resulting in huge losses to both friendly countries, Rafique maintained.
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