An illicit consignment of cigarettes worth over Ksh 32 million was impounded on Tuesday by a multi-agency team of detectives and the Kenya Revenue Authority- KRA officials.
In a statement, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) said the consignment comprised of over 20,000 packets of popular Supermatch and Palma Safari cigarette brands and was seized by the undercover team posing as potential clients at a residential house in Kahawa West, Nairobi County.
“Also recovered during the operation were assorted counterfeit stamps from the Kenya Revenue Authority and Uganda Revenue Authority as well as empty cigarette cartons labeled British American Tobacco (BAT), Kenya and Supermatch,” the statement reads in parts.
One suspect identified as Veronicah Njeri Kariuki was arrested and detained at Muthaiga police station, where she is assisting detectives with investigations before being arraigned in court.
According to the DCI, the total tax lost through the smuggled cigarettes is estimated at Ksh 18 million.
