KRA intercepts Sh8.2 million smartphones at JKIA

The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) apprehended 40 smartphones, valued at roughly Sh8.2 million, at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) on September 20. Customs officials uncovered the undeclared devices during routine baggage screening utilizing CT scanners at Terminal 1A International Arrivals. The mobile phones, consisting of both iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max models, were concealed within three small suitcases and a backpack.

Upon further examination, the officers seized the smartphones. The passenger, claiming to be transiting through Kenya by road to a neighboring country, later admitted he was acting as a courier for a client in Dubai and the phones were intended for Kenya. The passenger's travel history, showing multiple trips between Kenya and Dubai in September, prompted further questioning.

The intercepted phones are currently held at the Customs Warehouse awaiting clearance and verification. The incident underscores the importance of baggage-scanning technology, travel-pattern analysis, and intelligence-led screening in detecting attempts to smuggle undeclared goods across Kenya's entry points. KRA pledges to enhance border enforcement using modern inspection technologies, intelligence-led interventions, and increased capacities for Customs officers.

The Authority warns travelers that goods brought into Kenya must be declared and cleared, and cautions against carrying undeclared goods for third parties, as this could lead to Customs enforcement actions.