The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has intercepted a large consignment of illicit cigarettes at the Port of Mombasa, dealing a major blow to an attempted smuggling operation. In a statement released on Friday, the tax authority revealed that officers seized more than 9.3 million sticks of contraband cigarettes concealed inside a 40-foot container, with an estimated market value of Ksh.281.1 million. KRA said the operation was triggered by intelligence-led investigations, which led to the formation of a multi-agency verification team to inspect the suspicious cargo.
The joint inspection involved officers from KRA, the Port Police, Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), Anti-Counterfeit Authority (ACA), Port Health Services, and the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA). Upon verification, authorities confirmed that the container held 937 cartons containing a total of 9,370,000 cigarette sticks. The cartons were labelled “Made in Sudan,” raising red flags since the declared country of consignment was Cambodia.
Investigations further revealed that the shipment was routed through Singapore before arriving in Kenya and was allegedly destined for South Sudan. KRA disclosed that the intercepted consignment carried unpaid taxes amounting to Ksh.83.39 million, comprising Ksh.38.42 million in excise duty and Ksh.44.98 million in value-added tax (VAT). The Authority reiterated its commitment to protecting government revenue and curbing the illegal trade of excisable goods through continued intelligence-driven enforcement and inter-agency collaboration.
