The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has seized smuggled goods worth an estimated Ksh46.7 million after intercepting a passenger bus along the Uganda-Kenya route.
The goods included cigarettes, shisha tobacco and powdered milk, which KRA said were being transported to Nairobi.
The seizure followed an intelligence-led operation targeting a smuggling network moving excisable goods from Uganda into Kenya through porous border routes.
KRA said on Friday, September 18, that the goods were estimated to have put Ksh29.17 million in taxes at risk.
According to the Authority, intelligence showed that a passenger bus was being used to transport the goods from Uganda to a collection point in Busia before they were moved towards Nairobi.
KRA officers set up an ambush in Eldoret town to intercept the suspect and the bus. However, the suspect reportedly noticed the enforcement team and fled, forcing officers to pursue him.
He was later arrested at Kondoo in the Burnt Forest area, while the bus was escorted back to Eldoret and taken to a KRA warehouse for inspection.
Officers found hidden compartments inside the bus where the goods had allegedly been concealed.
The cigarettes were valued at about Ksh30.6 million, while shisha tobacco and related accessories were worth an estimated Ksh8.4 million. The consignment included tobacco flavours, filters, pots and bowls.
Powdered milk products worth about Ksh7.77 million were also recovered.
KRA said the use of specially made compartments showed the lengths smugglers were taking to avoid detection while moving goods along major transport routes.
The Authority said it would continue using intelligence gathering, surveillance and enforcement operations to disrupt smuggling networks.
KRA said the measures are also meant to protect government revenue, legitimate businesses and public health while ensuring compliance with tax and customs laws.