A multi-agency team led by Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) enforcement officers have intercepted a consignment of 1,135 cartons of Supermatch Cigarettes smuggled from Tanzania worth Ksh 113,500,000.
The uncustomed goods, declared at border post as Sunflower Seedcake, originating from Tanzania were intercepted on Saturday at Kimalat area along Namanga-Kitengela highway in Kaijado County following an intelligence-led operation.
The cartons contained 5,675,000 sticks.
The consignment has a total tax implication of Ksh 95,554,258. Upon interception, the cigarettes were booked at Isinya Police Station.
The driver of the truck transporting the goods, Caleb Kimutai Kiptoo was arrested and awaiting arraignment for charges of possession and conveying of uncustomed goods. Possession, transportation, and dealing in uncustomed goods are offenses under Section 200 of the EACCMA, 2004.
KRA enforcement officers with the assistance of other law enforcement agencies have made significant progress in dismantling the network involved in elaborate tax evasion schemes linked to smuggling of ethanol, illegal distilleries, packaging and production of counterfeit excise stamps used in the second generation alcoholic brands as well as distributors of the products.
