KRA nabs 16 containers loaded with contraband sugar

Ongoing efforts by the taxman to seal revenue leakages have unearthed a contraband consignment valued at 28 million shillings.

16 containers with imported sugar were nabbed by the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) at the Kilindini port in Mombasa.

The 16 containers verified so far, are loaded with sugar packed in, Ugandan based sugar miller Kakira Sugar Company.

“Ongoing verification efforts by KRA officers, in conjunction with the relevant authorities at the Mombasa Port, confirm that the 16, containers, contain imported sugar, with an assessed tax value of Ksh 28 million,” KRA said in a statement.

The consignment had been imported by Ms Flowlmer Distribution Company, which the KRA says had mis-declared the vessel cargo manifest.

“Any imports originating from the firm, would ideally enter Kenya by road or rail haulage through the land borders and not through the port via sea vessels,” KRA goes on to say.

The taxman has come down on tax evasion in the recent past as it seeks to maximize revenue collection.

By the end of the first half of the current financial year, KRA was behind its target by Ksh 47 billion.