KRA seize smartphones worth Sh16million smuggled through Eldoret International Airport
According to impeccable sources, the smuggling syndicate is said to comprise unscrupulous traders facilitated by rogue officials from the KRA Customs Department
The Eldoret International Airport is now emerging as a major transit point for smuggled items after the enforcement team from the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) intercepted 21,600 units of high-end smart phones worth Sh16,102,137 smuggled through the airport.
Majority of the gadgets has been concealed as clothes, auto spares, household items and electronic accessories.
According to impeccable sources, the smuggling syndicate is said to comprise unscrupulous traders facilitated by rogue officials from the KRA Customs Department.
A statement issued by the authority indicated that the consignment was part of consolidated items that included 5,000 declared units of smartphone worth Sh6.4million, shoes, clothes, auto spare parts, household items and other electronic accessories.
The consignment was intercepted following an intelligence report.
”Following intelligent reports, KRA enforcement teams have intercepted an undeclared consignment of 21,600 units of high-end smart phones worth Ksh16,102,137 in tax at the Eldoret International Airport. The consignment was part of consolidated items that included 5,000 declared units of smartphone worth Sh6.4 million, shoes, clothes, auto spare parts, household items and other electronic accessories,” it stated.
The consignments were consigned to Pemba Cargo Limited and was declared by Portyard Limited through a cargo plane that arrived on 18th September, 2025.
Investigations have established that the declarations of the goods were done either expressly or under consolidated cargo under each category.
According to KRA, the tax evasion scheme is a contravention of sections 203 of the East Africa Community Customs Act, (EACCMA) 2004 which states in part that a person who, in any matter relating to the Customs makes any entry which is false or incorrect in any particular, or in any way is knowingly concerned in any fraudulent evasion of the payment of any duty commits an offence and shall be liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years or to a fine not exceeding ten thousand dollars
The authority has stated that it is actively engaged in unearthing tax evasion schemes in order to boost tax revenue compliance as well as adherence to tax laws and procedures hence ensuring fair trade is maintained within the market.
