The taxman on Friday, February 7, intercepted a consignment of stolen luxury vehicles that were en route to Uganda following a joint operation by KRA, Interpol and the UK government.
A report from Business Daily on Saturday, February 7, provided that the five high-end vehicles, as well as two motorcycles, were seized at the Port of Mombasa.
The vehicles which comprised a Range Rover Vogue, Range Rover Sport, BMW 530D, BMW X5, and Volkswagen Tiguan were stolen from the UK and destined for Uganda.
Shipping documents for the BMW X5 and the Volkswagen Tiguan showed that the cargo consignee was Vumilia Investments Uganda.
Two of the cars - the Range Rover Sport and the BMW X5 - as well as the two motorcycles, were reported stolen in 2019 between the months of March and June.
KRA Regional Coordinator Southern Region Kenneth Ochola, expressed that the sale of stolen vehicles from the UK to the East African market supplied funding to crime rings.
“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 organised crime.”
This is not the first instance in which smuggled luxury vehicles found their way to the Kenyan coast.
A report by The Standard on December 28, 2019, provided details of another operation that saw the seizure of vehicles cumulatively valued at Ksh55.2 million.
KRA Commissioner of Investigations and Enforcement David Yego following the operation stated there were investigations underway to unmask the faces behind the smuggling racket.
“Investigations are still ongoing to identify and arrest other culprits who are part of this organised racket.”
Another operation in June 2019 recovered a Range Rover Sport at the Port of Mombasa.
Similarly, in this instance, the shipment was headed from the UK to Uganda.
