This archive report was first published on 16 October 2019.
On October 16, 2019, the Lamu Port was declared a customs area, marking a significant milestone in the facility's operations.
This new status, as declared by a Gazette notice from the customs and border control Commissioner, will facilitate the transshipment of goods.
Goods in a customs area are not subject to the customs jurisdiction of the host country, allowing for easy movement to a third country without involving customs authorities.
Additionally, the status simplifies the movement of goods, as they will not be subject to local customs procedures.
However, it's worth noting that while goods in the customs area are technically in the international domain, they are still subject to local laws.
For instance, drugs that are legal in the source and destination ports may not be allowed to pass through the port, even though the cargo is in international domain.
Earlier, the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) had announced that the port would feature an extended 30-day free storage for cargo transshipment.
