KRA nets Range Rovers ferried as household goods at Port of Mombasa

One of three Range Rovers found in a container during a routine check by Kenya Revenue Authority officials at the Port of Mombasa on Tuesday. Photo/COURTESY

BY WILLIAM MWANGI

December 1, 2015

Three Range Rovers were discovered in a cargo container said to have household goods during routine scanning at the Port of Mombasa on Tuesday.

The container with the sports utility vehicles, with a market value of more

than Sh28 million, had been declared as having items including baby car seats and bed sofas.

Other goods said to have been in it were toys, used personal clothes, beach beds, shoes, women's belts, party decoration items and handbags.

“As declared, the items would have attracted less than Sh1 million customs duty and related taxes, denying the Authority more than Sh19 million chargeable for such top of the range vehicles,” said KRA commissioner Julius Musyoki.

“The interception [by the customs and border control unit] was as a result of stricter checks and clearance procedures for all import and export cargo passing through the port as KRA seeks to seal all revenue leakage loopholes.”

Musyoki said the Kenya Revenue Authority is liaising with Interpol as the vehicles as the vehicles are suspected to have been stolen in the United Kingdom, where the container was shipped from.

“We are treating this case with the seriousness it deserves. The concealed vehicles units are un-customed goods and are therefore liable to forfeiture,” he said.

The vehicles' chassis numbers are SALWA2KE1EA382383, SALVA2AE6EH935310 and SALGA2KE0EA154055.

“The consignors, if found liable for customs offences and international crimes, will be charged in court," Musyoki said.

One of three Range Rovers found in a container during a routine check by Kenya Revenue Authority officials at the Port of Mombasa on Tuesday.