The national government has intensified the fight against smuggling along the Coast region’s border points.
The Kenya-Tanzania border points in Lunga Lunga and Taveta are being used by unscrupulous traders to smuggle contraband that may compromise the safety of Kenyans and deny government revenue.
In the past one week, the Kenya Revenue Authority nabbed a number of individuals smuggling contrabands into the country.
On Thursday, one person was charged in a Taveta court for importing restricted goods without complying with the laid down conditions.
Milan Shah was charged with the illegal importation of firearms parts and accessories consisting of seven pieces of Ceska empty magazine, four pieces of Jericho empty magazines and two pieces of recoil springs.
Other items were pieces of locking pin, unlocking/Allan key and three pieces of waist holster, which were concealed among other goods imported into the country from South Africa.
KRA’s investigation and enforcement department established Shah had contracted a transportation company to bring the package from South Africa to Kenya. The goods had been concealed as motor vehicle spare parts.
However, upon examination of the consignment at the Taveta border, the package was discovered and the gun accessories found.
The goods, with a customs value of Sh105, 895, had no accompanying import permit or license and had not been declared to customs in the customs entry document.
In court, the suspect denied the charges and was granted a bond of Sh5 million with an alternative cash bail of Sh2 million.
He mitigated the bond terms and a ruling will be made on November 11. The court ordered the suspect to be remanded at Taveta police station until then.
On Monday, KRA seized 65 bags of powder soap weighing 795kgs, which had been imported illegally from Tanzania through Vanga Township along the Kenya–Tanzania border.
The arrest was made after customs officers at the Lunga Lunga One-Stop Border Post received a tip off on Sunday that a suspect was offloading unaccustomed Tanzanian products at his house in Vanga area.
A multi-agency team led by KRA officials rushed to the site and intercepted the powder soap in the house and a shop, both owned by the suspect.
In a statement sent to newsrooms, KRA southern regional coordinator Joseph Tonui said the government would have lost Sh96, 354 in customs duty, if the taxman would have failed to intercept the product before being sold.
Last week, a government multi-agency team led by Coast regional commissioner John Elungata held a series of regional security meetings with local leaders and traders in Lunga Lunga, Vanga and Shimoni.
They resolved that all stakeholders would collaborate to stamp out contraband trade at the borders.
Officials from KRA, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, the Immigration department, Kenya Forest Service, National Intelligence Service and the Kenya Wildlife Service, among other national government agencies, attended.
Speaking after chairing the meetings, Elungata said KRA, the police and other law enforcement agencies would collaborate to contain the illicit trade and ensure there is no revenue leakage.
He instructed all agencies at the borders to remain vigilant to ensure criminals do not circumvent the law to undertake contraband trade which compromises the safety, security and Kenya's interests.
"You know it is in smaller ports where criminals take advantage of to smuggle goods. That is why they do not want to go to the port of Mombasa," Elungata said.
He encouraged whistle blowers to assist the government by offering information on the illegal trade.
Tonui urged all partner agencies based at the borders to collaborate with KRA to fight against smuggling and maximise revenue collection by ensuring that traders pay their taxes.
"As KRA, we are in charge of tax collection. However, all these other government agencies are law enforcement agencies who should also supplement the roles of KRA in its work. If the government does not have money, it will find it difficult to meet the essential needs of Kenyans," Tunoi said.
He pledged that KRA will soon organise a tax education forums at Shimoni border station where stakeholders will be educated about various tax obligations, calculation of duty and how they can undertake their business in compliance with KRA.
Edited by EKibii