KRA Catches Six Women Smuggling Ksh103 Million Through JKIA

Customs officers from the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) on Thursday, October 6 intercepted Ksh103.6 million in possession of six women attempting to sneak it through the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi.

The women of Somali descent were clearing an Ethiopian Airlines flight when they arrived carrying luggage containing shoes and clothes.

The officers from KRA's Customs and Border Control Unit detected the currency concealed in their luggage containing personal items during a routine scan at the airport.

The suspects were reported to have been travelling from India and arrived in Kenya aboard an Ethiopian Airlines flight number ET 318.

“On 6th October 2022, while clearing Ethiopian Airline flight Number ET 318, some six women of Somali origin arrived at the Customs area. They had with them luggage containing shoes and clothes.

"As usual, the bags were scanned to establish what they contained,” KRA stated.

The images, the tax authority added, had displayed items that looked like currency but a second check revealed that the luggage contained US currency amounting to Ksh103.6 million.

The money was intercepted and deposited into the customs warehouse for further investigations.

The provisions of the Second and Third Schedules of the East African Community (EAC) Customs Management Act state that passengers must declare all cargo and items they are carrying at the ports of entry and exit.

“KRA encourages passengers to correctly declare all cargo/items at the Ports of entry and exit as required under the provisions of the Second and Third Schedules of the EAC Customs Management Act, 2004,” KRA states.

Among the items travellers must declare to customs include money exceeding Ksh1 million.

Other items include gifts brought home for relatives, items meant for resale in the country and liquors exceeding one litre or wine exceeding two litres as well as perfumes and toiletries exceeding one litre.

The law adds that all passengers must allow customs officers to scan their luggage. 

“It is an offence under the East African Community Customs Management Act 2004 to give false information to a customs officer, and it is punishable under Section 203 of the said Act, including forfeiture of the subject goods and other relevant laws," investigative agencies state.

Passengers are further required to pay customs duty for any goods brought into the country at the point of entry. This is paid to customs officers posted at the airports or sea ports.

However, some categories of goods and passengers are exempted, including those that are meant for goods for personal and household use, as well as used goods.