In just over a week, Eldoret International Airport has hit the news headlines for all the wrong reasons. Once established as an alternative gateway to Kenya, the airport is fast evolving into the port of call for smugglers seeking routes to access markets across East Africa.

The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has intercepted a KSh25.45 million worth of suspect narcotics including methamphetamine, KSh46.77 million haul of smuggled cigarettes as well as 53,000 units of undeclared smartphones. This adds to roughly goods valued at over KSh94 million in illicit trade.

Increasingly, Eldoret is emerging as the main transit corridor for smuggled goods and merchandise destined for both Kenya and markets in the neighbouring countries.

KRA's latest announcement dated 24 September says its custom officers intercepted a consignment of narcotic substances concealed as cosmetics destined to Mombasa from Dubai.

The consignment was flagged by KRA customs officers after x-ray scanning revealed images that did not correspond with the declared contents, KRA explained.

"Further examination identified gaps in the accompanying documentation, including limited verifiable information on the shipper and consignee, making it difficult to establish the parties behind the shipment. Two batches subsequently tested positive for controlled substances at the Government Chemist Laboratory in Kisumu. Thirteen blue, soap-like blocks weighing 1,381.01 grammes tested positive for methamphetamine and were assigned an estimated street value of KSh11.05 million.

A further 14 maroon gel containers weighing 4,802.86 grammes tested positive for amphetamine, with an estimated street value of KSh14.41 million, the taxman stated in part.

The investigation extended beyond the seized cargo, resulting in the arrest of a suspect in Mombasa, KRA noted.

Smuggled cigarettes

Just days earlier, on 18 September, KRA enforcement officers intercepted smuggled cigarettes, shisha tobacco products and powdered milk with an estimated market value of KSh46.77 million and an estimated KSh29.177 million in taxes at risk. 

That operation, following an intelligence-led ambush in Eldoret town, targeted a suspect using a passenger bus operated by Simba Coach as cover to transport excisable products sourced from Uganda through porous border routes.

The suspect fled upon noticing the enforcement team, prompting a pursuit that ended with his detention at Kondoo police post, within the Burnt Forest area. A search of the bus revealed concealed compartments purpose-built to hide the contraband. 

The haul included ORIS cigarette flavours valued at approximately KSh30.6 million, shisha tobacco and accessories worth about KSh8.398 million and powdered milk products estimated at KSh7.768 million.

"The concealment of the goods in specially configured compartments within a passenger bus points to the increasingly sophisticated methods employed to evade detection along major transportation corridors," the KRA noted.

Under-declared smartphones

The third seizure, announced on 23 September, involved 53,000 under-declared smartphones at Eldoret International Airport, averting a tax loss of KSh21.5 million. 

This was part of a consignment of consolidated cargo declared under five customs entries, was said to contain 3,000 smartphones alongside shoes, clothing, automotive spare parts and other goods. 

Verification, however, established 55,607 ordinary smartphones against the 3,000 declared, plus 309 high-end devices, including Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, Samsung Galaxy Z Fold and Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max models, with no declaration at all.

The scheme contravenes Section 203 of the East African Community Customs Management Act, 2004, which provides for imprisonment of up to three years.

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