KENYA REVENUE AUTHORITY FOILS ATTEMPT TO SMUGGLE CONTRABAND GOODS

KENYA REVENUE AUTHORITY FOILS ATTEMPT TO SMUGGLE CONTRABAND GOODS

By Samuel Migele

Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) smashed a

syndicate involving the importation of

contraband goods into the Country through the

Taveta-Holili One –Stop Border Post (OSBP).

KRA detectives intercepted and seized

restricted goods, including ethanol, assorted

cosmetics used textiles, used footwear, soap

handkerchiefs and used shoes with a total

value of Ksh10,693,391, at the border. The

detectives also arrested a suspect in

connection to part of the consignment. Should

those behind the racket have succeeded in their

scheme, the government would have lost

Ksh6,811,870 million in tax revenue.

The goods were misdeclared as sandals

manufactured in Tanzania to circumvent the

law on importation of contraband goods. The

suspects behind the scheme attempted to

sneak the goods into the Kenyan market in five

trucks before the interception.

The importation of the concealed used clothes

and footwear contravened the new Protocols for

Importation of Used Textiles and Used

Footwear into Kenya issued by the Ministry of

Industrialization, Trade and Enterprise

Development in August 2020.

The goods were seized in an operation

conducted by detectives from the KRA

enforcement units and the National Police

Service at the Taveta border following

intelligence reports.

Upon verification, the trucks were found to

contain other items apart from what had been

declared. The assorted cosmetics, soap

handkerchiefs, shoes and clothes were

concealed in the middle of bags of sandals.

Following investigations, Kenya Revenue

Authority enforcement detectives arrested a

suspect in connection to the imported Cargo in

two of the trucks.The suspect, Joseph Wakagwi

Ndungi alias Kiganjo was arraigned before the

Taveta principal Magistrate Hon. Benson

Sikuku Khapoya and charged with two counts

of importing restricted goods and concealment

of goods contrary to provisions of The East

African Community Customs Management Act.

He was charged that, on or about 1st October,

2020, at Taveta One-Stop Border Post within

Taita Taveta County, knowingly with others not

before court, imported restricted goods namely

assorted used shoes (mitumba), all loaded in

two trucks which could have caused a revenue

loss of Ksh1,075,505.

The accused was also charged that on or about

1st October 2020 at Taveta one stop border

post knowingly with others not before Court

imported concealed goods namely assorted

used Shoes(Mitumba).

The accused pleaded not guilty to the two

counts and was released on a bond of Ksh1

million. The case was scheduled for mention on

14th December, 2020 and will be heard on 16th

December 2020. Leading the prosecution in the

case was Mr Karuga Samuel. Efforts are

underway to track other suspects for purposes

of arraignment before court.

KRA is determined to detect and disrupt tax

evasion schemes and prosecute criminals who

engage in concealment and smuggling of

goods through our borders to ensure that all

individuals pay their fair share of taxes and the

right amount of taxes are paid to the

government.