Tax-evading cartels unmasked

Security officers in Mombasa have unmasked cartels of tax evaders involving individuals within the port.

Investigations by a multi-agency security team established that the individuals jam the Kenya Revenue Authority system to conceal goods passing through the facility.

Speaking during a press briefing in Mombasa on Wednesday, Coast Regional Coordinator Nelson Marwa said the syndicate was going on in the terminal area within the port.

“This is a sophisticated cartel where the individuals bring in expensive goods but declare it as just small cargo. They have interfered with the system where when a container is loaded into the system it reads as error. This is not done by a layman outside but by individuals within,” he said.

Mr Marwa revealed that a week ago, a container with luxurious vehicles which had been declared as sandals was nabbed.

“We have ordered the agent of the container we are holding to be arrested or he surrenders to the police and if he does not show up we are going to break it so that we can know what is in there,” he said.

At the same time, he said some funeral homes are engaging in drug businesses.

“The drug barons have changed their ways and we are now going to inspect all those vehicles and caskets. We do not want people to taint this legal process and we will ensure that we deal with those involved accordingly,” he said.