KRA intercepts 52.5 tonnes of contraband sugar in midnight Marsabit raid

By  David Mwere

Correspondent

Nation Media Group

The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has seized 52.5 metric tonnes of smuggled sugar in Marsabit town in an intelligence-led operation that struck a major blow against a cross-border contraband syndicate, just days after a similar operation in Lodwar seized the contraband product.

The seized smuggled sugar, about 2,100 bags, was part of an intelligence-led operation by the North Central Region Business Intelligence (NCR-BID) field team, according to KRA Enforcement Chief Mr Mohamed M’maka.

“On November 4, 2026, at around 1230hrs, the NCR-BID field team received intelligence information on smuggled sugar from Somalia destined for Marsabit. The team conducted surveillance and tracked the movement of two lorries to Marsabit Town,” said Mr M’maka.

The KRA enforcement chief added that on November 5, 2026, at around 0320hrs, “the team impounded the two vehicles at a store in Marsabit Town while the smuggled sugar was being offloaded.”

“The two vehicles were found loaded with an estimated 2,100 bags of sugar, each weighing 25kg,” said the KRA Enforcement Chief.

In early October 2026, the KRA enforcement team also intercepted a lorry ferrying 100 bags of sugar suspected to have been smuggled into the country from Uganda, following a dramatic pursuit along the Mumias Road in Matungu, Kakamega County.

The seizure was made on October 2, 2026, when a Port Victoria Customs patrol team encountered an Isuzu NMR lorry along the Mumias Road.

The interception of the smuggled sugar in Marsabit highlights a significant attempt to introduce uncustomed goods into the domestic market, with potential revenue losses arising from the evasion of customs duties, taxes and other regulatory charges.

Available intelligence shows that the consignment, which originated from Somalia and was transported through a coordinated logistics network to a storage facility in Marsabit, suggests a well-organised operation designed to avoid detection and facilitate distribution into local markets.

The transportation of uncustomed goods is an offence under the East African Community Customs Management Act (EACCMA) of 2004, with offenders risking seizure of consignments and vehicles used to transport them, financial penalties and prosecution under the law.

To discourage the sugar smuggling business and protect the local industry, punitive measures have been introduced in the law such that Sh460 is charged for any kilogramme of illegal sugar seized by law enforcers.

The transportation, distribution and sale of uncustomed goods also expose offenders to other financial penalties and prosecution.

Mr M’maka noted that the seized quantity has an estimated value of Sh6.41 million in wholesale value and Sh7.9 million in retail market value, with taxes at risk of Sh10.14 million.

The taxes comprise Import Duty at 100 per cent for non-East Africa Community (EAC) origin, Excise Duty at Sh40 per kilogram under the Finance Act of 2026, VAT at 16 per cent, Sugar Development Levy at 4 per cent, Import Declaration Fee at 3.5 per cent and Railway Development Levy at 2 per cent.

There is also the punitive charge of Sh24.2 million at Sh460 per kilogram for illegal sugar seized, which translates to a total financial exposure of Sh34.3 million, plus forfeiture of the sugar and the two motor vehicles.

“The sugar and the two lorries are in KRA custody pending further investigations and legal action against the owners, transporters and the store owner,” said Mr M’maka.

The continued smuggling of contraband goods in the local markets underscores the continued vulnerability of northern transit corridors to cross-border smuggling and points to the possible existence of established supply chain networks supporting illicit trade.

“The successful intelligence-led surveillance and interception not only disrupted a major smuggling operation but also generated valuable leads on the individuals, transport networks, storage facilities and distribution channels involved,” said Mr M’maka.

“The seizure is therefore a significant enforcement achievement with potential deterrent effects on similar illicit activities within the Marsabit corridor.”

The Lodwar seizure, conducted by KRA’s North Rift Region Investigation and Enforcement Team on October 7, 2026, saw 46.3 metric tonnes of smuggled sugar impounded after two lorries were intercepted transporting the quantity that had not been subjected to the required customs procedures.

The consignment had an estimated tax implication of about Sh9.73 million, representing revenue that would have been lost to the Government had the goods entered the market undetected.

The seizure is in line with KRA’s mandate to prevent the illicit movement of goods across Kenya’s porous borders, protect government revenue and safeguard legitimate businesses from unfair competition posed by smuggled goods.

In another separate multi-agency operation within Kakamega in October 2026, KRA’s team intercepted a Probox motor vehicle suspected of transporting uncustomed sugar believed to have come from Uganda.

The vehicle was found carrying 30 bags of brown sugar, each weighing 50 kilograms.

The goods, with an estimated value of Sh1.524 million, were intercepted and the vehicle escorted to Matungu Police Station, where both the vehicle and exhibits were detained.

Mr M’maka noted that KRA continues to intensify surveillance and intelligence-led enforcement along border routes and other corridors vulnerable to smuggling, particularly those used to move high-demand commodities such as sugar.

He warned transporters, distributors, traders and store owners against handling goods that have not been properly cleared through customs.

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