Mombasa court convicts 4 Tanzanians for smuggling uncustomed goods, orders forfeiture to KRA

Mombasa court convicts 4 Tanzanians for smuggling uncustomed goods, orders forfeiture to KRA

Kenya Revenue Authority successfully applied to the Commissioner of Customs and Border Control for the forfeiture of the goods.

A court in Mombasa has fined a Tanzanian national Sh258,000 with an alternative of one year’s imprisonment for smuggling uncustomed goods in Kenya which were imported from Tanzania.

The court has also ordered the goods to be forfeited to the Commissioner of Customs and Border Control.

Nganzi Mohamed Abdalla, who was the driver of the mini-bus vehicle used to transport the goods, including purified water, energy drinks and juice products, pleaded guilty when was arraigned before Mombasa Chief Magistrate Alex Ithuku.

Three other Tanzanian nationals – Khalifa Abdalla Seif, Issa Ismail Issah and Nasoro Abdalla Seif – who were jointly charged in connection to the same goods, were each fined Sh12,282.50 after pleading guilty to a charge of having the uncustomed goods.

Meanwhile, the Kenya Revenue Authority successfully applied to the Commissioner of Customs and Border Control for the forfeiture of the goods. KRA's application for the forfeiture of the minibus used to ferry the goods is awaiting determination by the court.

The chief magistrate summoned the vehicle's owner to appear before the court on March 13, 2025, to show cause why it should not be forfeited to KRA.

According to the Kenya Revenue Authority, the four convicted persons were found in possession of the goods on January 11 at Simba Coach stage in Mwembe Tayari, Mombasa County. The excisable goods were not affixed with valid excise duty stamps on being intercepted.

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