SUGAR SMUGGLERS SENTENCED TO FIVE YEARS IMPRISONMENT

Two convicted for smuggling sugar from Uganda.

Two suspects convicted for smuggling sugar from Uganda

By Samuel Migele

Two accused were convicted by Kapenguria law court after being found

guilty of smuggling sugar from Uganda.

Kapenguria Senior Principal Magistrate Samuel Mutai found Leonard

Rotino and Collins Ignatious Steekamp guilty of smuggling 700 bags of

sugar each weighing 50kg branded Kaliro brown sugar and which are

manufactured in Uganda.

Rotino, importer of the goods, was sentenced to serve 5 years

imprisonment or pay a fine of half the dutiable value of the goods

which is Kshs 1,575,000 while Steekamp, a truck driver, was sentenced

to pay a fine of Ksh 50,000. The 700 bags of brown sugar were also

forfeited to the Kenya Revenue Authority.

The law prohibits Importing restricted goods contrary to section 200(a)

(ii) of the East

African Community and Customs Management Act 2004 and Conveying

uncustomed goods contrary to section 199(b) (iii) of the East African

community and Customs Management Act 2004 respectively.

The convicts were arrested after KRA investigation officers with the

assistance of DCI officers from Kacheliba intercepted a truck carrying

imported sugar without import documents. The vehicle was intercepted

along Karita – Kacheliba road. Investigations confirmed that the sugar

had no import documents such as the importation licence and a

certificate of origin from the East African Countries.

Importation of sugar into Kenya is regulated by the sugar directorate

under Agriculture and Food Authority making it a restricted item. For

one to import sugar into the Country, one is required to obtain an

annual sugar importation licence from the Sugar Directorate and obtain

a pre- shipment permit for each consignment.

The licences and permit form part of the documentation to be presented

to customs officers at the border at the time of importation for

clearance and payment of requisite taxes. However, unscrupulous

importers without the requisite licences avoid the strict customs

processes at designated border points at Busia, Lwakhakha, Malaba and

Suam importers and smuggle in sugar from Uganda using ungazetted border

points such as Karita and Lokiriama. The sugar is then distributed to

retailers who then sell to consumers within Trans Nzoia, West Pokot and

Lodwar Counties. This amounts to unfair trade practices and occasions

massive revenue loss to the Government.

The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) strives to detect and disrupt tax

evasion schemes and prosecute criminals who engage in smuggling of

goods through our borders to ensure that all individuals pay their fair

share of customs duty and the right amount of taxes are paid to the

government.

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