Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) enforcement teams intercepted a truck carrying contraband cigarettes in a 40-foot container, with an estimated Sh70 million in evaded customs duties and taxes.
The interception followed surveillance and the tracking of a major smuggling syndicate operating across multiple countries.
In a coordinated, intelligence-led operation conducted in partnership with other government agencies, KRA
Customs and Investigations officers identified one of the suspected truck in Busia County.
KRA said the officers swiftly pursued the vehicle and successfully intercepted it along the Busia–Mumias Road.
Upon inspection, the track was found transporting 1500 cartons of illicit Supermatch cigarettes and the driver failed to present documentation relating to the consignment.
The truck was also found to have been fitted with a KRA Regional Electronic Cargo Tracking System (RECTS) seal whose signal had been deliberately disconnected from the monitoring system, confirming efforts to disguise smuggling activity.
The consignment was escorted to KRA’s Kisumu Customs Warehouse, where it was sealed and deposited; pending multi-agency verification and further investigations.
KRA’s intelligence networks have detected sophisticated schemes being used by smugglers to evade taxes and bypass restrictions on illicit trade.
These schemes include concealment within tobacco lamina consignments, where contraband cigarettes are disguised as part of legitimate transit cargo before being diverted and dumped in the Kenyan market.
“Smugglers have also been found to be compromising transit processes by fixing trucks with RECTS seals that do not emit any signal to mimic lawful transit and reduce enforcement suspicion,” KRA said.
The East African Community Customs Management Act (EACCMA), 2004 defines smuggling as the importation or exportation of goods in violation of customs laws, including goods concealed to evade duties or taxes. Under Section 199, offenders are liable to seizure of the goods, forfeiture of the conveyance used, and prosecution. Penalties include fines not exceeding ten thousand dollars or up to 50% of the dutiable value of the goods, imprisonment for a term of up to five years, or both.
Speaking to the press, Commissioner Customs and Border Control Dr Lilian Nyawanda said that the successful interception demonstrates KRA’s continued commitment to protecting the country from illicit trade and safeguarding revenue.
She said that smuggling not only denies the government critical tax–revenue for national development but also undermines fair competition and exposes consumers to unregulated products.
“For proper deterrence, our main interest is in drilling down through the layered complexity of these schemes for possible uprooting, while reducing generalities which often lead to collateral damage and revenue leakage.” added Dr. Nyawanda.
KRA continues to intensify surveillance and enforcement operations across border points, leveraging intelligence, technology, and inter-agency collaboration to curb illicit trade.
The Authority also urged the public and stakeholders to remain vigilant and report any suspicious trade activities through KRA’s hotlines.
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