By Dorothy Musyoka
In a significant victory against the smuggling of uncustomed goods, a joint operation by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has intercepted a consignment worth Sh56 million.
According to the DCI, the sting operation, carried out along the Kitengela-Namanga road in Kajiado County, uncovered 1,135 boxes of Super match cigarettes concealed in a lorry, registration number KBN 216F.
The lorry was flagged down at Kimalat by detectives from Kitengela, and escorted the vehicle to Isinya Police Station for a detailed examination.
“The vehicle was suspected of transporting uncustomed goods. A search revealed it was carrying Super match cigarettes, which were misrepresented in declarations at the Namanga border and in the importation documents. As a result, it was escorted to Isinya Police Station for detailed examination and verification,” stated the detectives.
A multi-agency investigation team, comprising the County Security Team and KRA’s Investigation and Enforcement Team, confirmed that the seized boxes contained a value of Sh 56 million and 5,000 cigarette sticks.
“The lorry was transporting 1,135 boxes of Super match cigarettes, each box containing 5,000 sticks. The value of the cargo was found to be Sh56 million,” reiterated the DCI.
The lorry and its illicit cargo remain detained as authorities investigate the breach of border checkpoint protocols, including operational scanner evasion.
The success of this operation underscores the importance of inter-agency collaboration in tackling cross-border smuggling. Further investigations are underway to trace the origin and intended distribution network of the contraband.