Busia: Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) officers have intercepted a truck ferrying contraband cigarettes in Busia County, thwarting an attempt to evade more than Sh70 million in customs duties and taxes. The 40-foot container truck was seized along the Busia-Mumias Road during an intelligence-led operation, mounted by KRA enforcement teams in collaboration with other government agencies.

According to Kenya News Agency, the operation followed days of surveillance targeting a cross-border smuggling ring believed to be operating across several countries. Upon inspection, the truck was found transporting 1,500 cartons of illicit Supermatch cigarettes without any accompanying documentation. Investigations further revealed that the vehicle had been fitted with a Kenya Revenue Authority Regional Electronic Cargo Tracking System (RECTS) seal, whose signal had been deliberately disabled to conceal its movements from KRA’s monitoring system.

The consignment is being held at KRA Customs Warehouse in Kisumu for safekeeping, pending multi-agency verification and further investigation. In a statement to the media, KRA Commissioner for Customs and Border Control, Dr. Lilian Nyawanda, said smugglers were increasingly using sophisticated methods to evade taxes, including concealing illicit cargo within legitimate transit goods such as tobacco lamina and installing dummy tracking seals that mimic lawful transit. She said the interception underscores the Authority’s commitment to dismantling smuggling networks and safeguarding public revenue.

“This successful operation demonstrates our resolve to root-out illicit trade and protect the integrity of the country’s supply chains,” said Dr. Nyawanda. “Smuggling not only denies the government vital tax revenue for national development, but also undermines fair competition and exposes consumers to unregulated products,” she noted. She added that KRA is prioritizing intelligence-driven enforcement to identify and neutralize elaborate schemes that cause significant revenue loss.

Under the East African Community (EAC) Customs Management Act (EACCMA), 2004, smuggling is defined as the illegal importation or exportation of goods to evade customs duties and taxes. Offenders risk seizure of goods, forfeiture of the vehicles used, fines of up to 50 per cent of the dutiable value, or imprisonment for up to five years.

KRA has intensified surveillance at border points, leveraging technology and inter-agency cooperation to curb tax evasion and illicit trade. The Authority has urged members of the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious trade activities through its toll-free hotlines.