The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has seized 529 electronic items worth an estimated Sh 13 million during an intelligence-led operation at a residential apartment in Nairobi’s Kileleshwa area.
The authority on Thursday said the goods were suspected to have been smuggled into the country without payment of the required customs duties and taxes.
The seizure included 358 laptops, nine iPads and 162 electronic accessories, KRA said.
The laptops comprised 269 Dell, 83 HP and six Lenovo units, while the iPads were iPad Mini models.
The accessories included 150 Bluetooth devices, six laptop chargers and six laptop batteries.
KRA said the operation followed intelligence on suspected customs tax evasion, smuggling and the use of residential premises to store and sell goods commercially without authorisation.
The authority said intelligence indicated that a foreign national was allegedly operating a business involving the movement and storage of electronic goods without complying with customs and tax requirements.
The seized items have been taken into KRA custody pending verification, investigations and determination of the applicable customs and tax obligations, it said.
KRA said it was also investigating the use of residential apartments as warehouses for commercial goods, saying some small retailers in Nairobi’s city centre may be using such premises to store goods suspected to have been smuggled into the country.
The authority said such practices undermine revenue collection and create unfair competition for traders who comply with tax and customs requirements.
KRA said the investigation would establish the source of the goods, how they entered the country and whether any individuals or businesses were linked to the suspected offences.
It said appropriate action would be taken based on the findings and in accordance with the law.
KRA urged the public to report suspected cases of smuggling, tax evasion and other forms of illicit trade through its reporting channels, including the iWhistle platform.
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