Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has nabbed high-end motor vehicles and motorbikes at Mombasa port.
The consignments were suspected to have been stolen from the United Kingdom. They were 5 cars and two motorcycles and were intercepted while on transit to Uganda.
The vehicles, a Range Rover Vogue, Range Rover Sport, BMW 530D, BMW x5, Volkswagen Tiguan, and two motorcycles were seized after a verification process that involved KRA Customs enforcement team, international police (Interpol), Metropolitan Police from UK and officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations among other security agencies.
KRA regional coordinator Kenneth Ochala confirmed the seizure.
He said the First Secretary at the British High Commission to Kenya, Mr Waqar Qureshi, witnessed the verification exercise at Focus Container Freight Station in Mombasa where the suspect containers were being held.
“The bill of lading for the container with the three vehicles and two motor-cycles indicated that the cargo was shipped from the Port of Jabel Ali, and the consignor was Jason Abayomi from London,” said Ochala
The vehicles were inscribed with chassis numbers of other vehicles which have not been reported as stolen in the United Kingdom to circumvent border control systems. It is believed that such smuggled high-end vehicles are diverted to the Kenyan local market which hurts the local motor-vehicle industry. Further, proceeds from the illegal business are believed to be responsible for funding organized crime.
