KRA Intercepts Contraband Cigarettes Worth Ksh72.2M

Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has seized a shipment of illegal cigarettes worth about Ksh 72.2 million at the Port of Mombasa after a targeted intelligence-led operation by customs enforcement teams.

The cigarettes were flagged after authorities tracked the movement of the cargo from Asia, where it was loaded, through multiple transit points before it reached Kenya. Investigators say the consignment originated from Cambodia and was declared as transit goods headed to South Sudan, a declaration that later raised red flags.

Officers attached to the Joint Port Control Unit carried out a detailed inspection of the container after risk analysis showed inconsistencies in the shipping documents. With support from international law-enforcement agencies, including Interpol, the teams moved in to stop the cargo from being released.

Inside the container, officers found 1,083 cartons of cigarettes bearing the brands Supermatch, Dunhill and Marlboro. KRA said the packaging and shipping method pointed to an organised smuggling scheme intended to avoid taxes and sneak the products into the local market.

The presence of Supermatch cigarettes was of particular concern to investigators. The brand is legally produced in Kenya and Uganda, but authorities believe the intercepted stock may have been counterfeit or diverted through illegal trade routes.

KRA noted that the illegal cigarette trade denies the government billions of shillings in revenue every year and gives unfair advantage to smugglers over compliant manufacturers and traders.

The authority also warned that illicit cigarettes often escape health and safety checks, exposing consumers to potentially dangerous substances.

The authority said it remains focused on protecting public health and strengthening border controls in line with global customs standards.

KRA has encouraged the public to assist in the fight against illicit trade by reporting suspicious cargo movements or trade practices through its official hotlines, the iWhistle reporting platform or at any KRA office.