This archive report was first published on 31 August 2019.
On August 30, 2019, Kenya Revenue Authority officials destroyed contraband worth Sh809,619,650 at Stoni Athi, Kajiado County. The destruction marked a significant milestone in the fight against illicit trade and contraband goods in the country.
The products destroyed included 25,070 bottles of beer valued at over Sh6.267 million, 102,004 bottles of wine worth over Sh306 million, spirit packed in 82,538 bottles worth Sh425 million, and 104,786 bottles of juice worth Sh20.9 million. The taxman also destroyed 93,670 bottles of water worth Sh49 million, 60,000 fake excise stamps worth Sh168,000, and 6,450 packets of cigarettes worth Sh967,500.
According to the Kenya Revenue Authority, the sale of the products could have seen the government lose Sh193,695,443 in tax revenues. The products were confiscated in Nairobi in the course of the last financial year and prior years.
“Today’s destruction exercise marks a significant milestone in the fight against illicit trade and contraband goods in the country. It underscores the government’s determination and keenness to annihilate the vices of illicit trade and contraband goods,” the Kenya Revenue Authority said in a statement.
“The two vices not only pose unfair competition to legally trading products in the market but also pose potential health hazards to unsuspecting consumers,” the authority added.
