MOMBASA, Kenya, Sep 7 – The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) on Tuesday arrested three suspects involved in the alleged export of raw hides and skins worth an estimated sh112 million at the port of Mombasa.
The sting operation led by the KRA enforcement team alongside a government multiagency team nabbed the three despite their attempts to allegedly bribe officers in order to let them go.
Unknowingly, the officers they were trying to bribe were attached at the Ethics and Anticorruption Commission (EACC).
According to the Regional Coordinator Southern Region Joseph Tonui the government could have lost approximately Sh75 Million in export duty.
“The exporters of the hides and skins which are believed to be locally sourced had declared in Customs documents that the Containers were loaded with Mats which were to be shipped to the United States of America and Europe,” Said Tonui.
The officials at the port say this was part of a ploy to circumvent customs regulations and avoid the suspicion that they were involved in the illegal exportation of hides and skins.
Port officials had received intelligence reports from a multi-agency security team of the whereabouts of the containers.
“The scheme involved stuffing containers with raw hides and skins meant for export from local godowns in the absence of Customs officers which is contrary to customs law on exports,” Said commissioner in charge of investigations and enforcements Edward Karanja who further said, “the Cargo which was to be shipped by two Vessels MV BOMAR FULGENT and MV COSCO YINKOU were destined to Nigeria instead of the US and Europe as it had been purported in shipping documents,” he said.
Investigations are ongoing.
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