A major breakthrough in the fight against illicit trade was recorded at the Port of Mombasa after the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) led a multi-agency team to intercept a 40-foot container carrying 9.5 million illegal cigarettes disguised as sanitary towels.
Valued at Sh200 million, the consignment could have cost the government Sh76 million in lost tax revenue. The container, originating from Thailand aboard a CMA CGM vessel, was falsely declared to contain 1,100 boxes of sanitary towels destined for Nairobi-based Lotec Foundation.
Verification at the Port Police Station, overseen by Interpol, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, and Kenya Ports Authority, revealed that while the first 146 boxes contained genuine sanitary towels, the remaining boxes were filled with Supermatch cigarettes stamped for Uganda.
KRA Deputy Commissioner Chege Macharia credited timely international intelligence and modern scanning technology for the interception, noting that AI-assisted scanning now enables near-instant detection of suspicious cargo. He stressed that the smuggling of illicit tobacco not only robs the government of vital revenue but also threatens public health.
The operation underscores the importance of multi-agency collaboration, risk assessment, and technological investment in safeguarding Kenya’s borders.
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