The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
Related Articles
The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has intercepted a truck loaded with contraband cigarettes in Busia County, in a bust that could have cost the government about Sh70 million in lost customs duties and taxes.
The 40-foot container was tracked along the Busia–Mumias Road during an intelligence-led operation conducted by KRA’s Customs and Investigations team in collaboration with other agencies. Upon inspection, officers discovered 1,500 cartons of illicit Supermatch cigarettes.
Click here to join our WhatsApp Channel
The consignment, which lacked proper documentation, had been fitted with a tampered Regional Electronic Cargo Tracking System (RECTS) seal in an apparent attempt to disguise the smuggling. Both the truck and cargo have since been secured at KRA’s Kisumu Customs Warehouse for further verification and investigation.
KRA Commissioner for Customs and Border Control, Dr. Lilian Nyawanda, said the seizure highlighted the authority’s ongoing crackdown on illicit trade, noting that smugglers are increasingly using sophisticated methods to evade detection.
“Smuggling robs the government of essential revenue and puts consumers at risk from unsafe products. We are drilling deeper into these networks to dismantle them completely,” Dr. Nyawanda said.
Under the East African Community Customs Management Act (EACCMA), offenders face heavy penalties, including forfeiture of goods and vehicles, fines of up to $10,000 or 50 percent of the goods’ value, and imprisonment of up to five years.
KRA has stepped up surveillance at border points, relying on technology and intelligence-sharing to combat tax evasion and illicit trade.
