The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has intercepted a massive consignment of undeclared goods at Eldoret International Airport, including 21,600 high-end smartphones valued at over Sh16 million, in one of the largest tax evasion crackdowns this year.
The seizure, which took place on September 18, followed an intelligence-led operation targeting illicit imports arriving aboard a cargo plane. In addition to the smartphones, KRA officials impounded 5,000 declared units worth Sh6.4 million, alongside a range of other goods including shoes, clothing, auto spare parts, household items, and electronic accessories.
According to KRA sources, the undeclared smartphones were concealed within a shipment that had been misrepresented in customs documentation. The operation was triggered by a tip-off from internal intelligence teams monitoring suspicious cargo movements.
“This seizure underscores our commitment to curbing tax evasion and protecting legitimate trade,” said a senior KRA official. “We are intensifying surveillance and enforcement at all entry points.”
Images shared from the scene show stacks of boxed smartphones and other goods being offloaded and catalogued by customs officers.
The Eldoret bust is part of a wider crackdown by KRA targeting tax cheats exploiting air cargo routes to smuggle high-value goods into the country. Officials say the operation is aimed at safeguarding revenue collection and ensuring fair competition for compliant businesses.
KRA has recently ramped up its use of data analytics, cargo tracking systems, and inter-agency coordination to detect and intercept fraudulent imports.
Investigations into the consignment are ongoing, with authorities expected to press charges against individuals linked to the shipment. The suspects could face penalties under the East African Community Customs Management Act and the Tax Procedures Act.
KRA has urged importers to comply with customs regulations and warned that future violations will attract severe consequences, including asset forfeiture and criminal prosecution.
Link to this News: https://eastleighvoice.co.ke/business/214497/kra-seizes-21600-smartphones-worth-sh16-million-in-latest-tax-evasion-crackdown
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