Trader Fined Ksh80, 000 for Possession of Fake Excise Stamps

A Milimani law court has fined a trader KShs.80,000 or in default, imprisonment for 8 months after the accused trader pleaded guilty to charges  of being in possession of uncustomed goods contrary to Section 200 9d0(iii)  as read with Section 210© of the East African Community Customs  Management Act 2004. 

Principal Magistrate David Ndunge found Francis Kariuki Macharia guilty of  being in possession of 6000 bottles of 300 ml Azam energy drinks that were  uncustomed and of a customs value of KShs.155,000. He also faced a charge of  being in possession of excisable goods without excise stamps which is contrary  to regulation 30(1)(b) as read with regulation 30(2) of the Excise  Duty(Excisable Goods Management System Regulations, 2017). 

Kariuki was arrested while transporting the goods on 14th March 2021 at  Mlolongo along Nairobi-Mlolongo road. The Court ordered for the release of  motor vehicle used to transport the goods but ordered that the exhibits (Azam  Energy drink) be destroyed by KRA. 

KRA is conducting surveillance on illicit trade involving use of counterfeit  excise stamps to rid the market of illicit goods and promote fare trade as well  as protect the public from consuming harmful products. 

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On Saturday 1st May 2021, KRA carried out simultaneous operations in  various parts of Nairobi including Kariobangi, Ruai, Kiserian, Dandora,  Pipeline, Kasarani and Kenyatta market. The operation happened on Saturday  and KRA officers seized various brands of illicit liquor estimated to have a  market value of KShs. 1,194,200 and tax value of KShs.531, 443. 

KRA is committed to ensuring that trade operations are only carried out by  traders who abide by the laid down legislations and tax policies. 

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