This archive report was first published on 14 August 2019.
On July 30, Kenyan detectives, assisted by Interpol, launched an investigation into a car theft ring after three luxury vehicles were seized at the port of Mombasa.
The Kenya Revenue Authority revealed on Tuesday that the vehicles, two Range Rovers and a Mercedes, were worth an estimated Sh40 million and had been concealed as household goods.
Import documents indicated that the container was carrying a Mercedes Benz A180 and a BMW 125I Sport, but declaration documents stated the 40-foot container was loaded with a second-hand Range Rover sport HSE SDV6 and one unit of used BMW X5.
According to officials, the container was inspected non-intrusively using the customs x-ray scanner in Mombasa, which revealed that the contents were three high-end vehicles, inconsistent with the declaration.
The Kenya Revenue Authority had earlier sought international investigation and enforcement agencies to help arrest and prosecute the cartel behind the global vehicle smuggling syndicate.
Interpol will be working hand in hand with detectives from agencies including the National Intelligence Service and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations in a bid to eradicate car theft syndicates in the country.
Commissioner, Customs and Border Control Kelvin Safari said, 'We are working with other local and international investigation agencies to nab and prosecute the culprits who are behind this international vehicle smuggling syndicate.'
