Two truck drivers are facing charges with the exportation of scrap metal without a license from the Kenya environmental authority (NEMA).

Isaack Njama and Francis Njoroge broke the country’s law enacted in 2015 that banned the exportation of scrap metals including spent-lead-acid–batteries (SLABs).

According to the Scrap Metal Act, the owners of the trucks will also forfeit the vehicles to the state.

The drivers are facing 20 years in jail or a 20 million fine after admitting before Senior Magistrate Judicaster Nthambi that they were transporting scrap batteries to Tanzania without a license.

Namanga, Taveta, Busia and lungalunga have been mentioned as maine routes used for the illegal business.

Nema’s Director-General, Mamo Nama said together with relevant government agencies they have implemented an intelligence-based approach when dealing with such cases.

“This approach has really worked and has truly borne fruit, with arrests of the two offenders dealing with hazardous waste along our porous borders. We thank our inspectors in Kajiado led by the county director of environment, Joseph Kopejo,” he said.

Kenya is the largest consumer of lead-acid batteries in the East Africa Community, produces over a third of SLABs but recycles only about a quarter as the rest is illegally transported to the neighboring countries.

The magistrate is set to convict the two on November 9 after reviewing the probation report.