This archive report was first published on 31 August 2019.
On August 31, 2019, the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) marked a significant milestone in its fight against illicit trade by destroying contraband worth Ksh.1.5 billion.
The exercise, which took place at Stony Athi, Kajiado County, saw the taxman, in collaboration with the Anti-Counterfeit Agency and other stakeholders, destroy over 300 bottles of illicit alcoholic drinks.
The team also destroyed machinery used in the production of the condemned goods, including excise stamps and cigarettes.
The products were seized from traders in Nairobi, with the taxman fearing that over Ksh.400 million could have been lost in tax revenues.
Earlier, on August 13, 2019, KRA officers had seized three concealed high-end vehicles worth Ksh.40 million at the Port of Mombasa.
The authority stated that the vehicles – two Range Rovers and a Mercedes Benz – were seized following an intensified crackdown against the importation of contraband goods.
Additionally, in September last year, former Kenya Bureau of Standards (KeBS) Managing Director Charles Ongwae, was arrested alongside 32 top Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) and KEBS officials over allegations of allowing contraband and contaminated goods into the country.
