Uganda’s tax body, Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) has arrested alleged smugglers with cigarettes worth Shs1.6bn.
This development was revealed by the authority at a press conference held at the Headquarters in Nakawa on Wednesday.
Francis Yeko and two other accomplices were arrested by a team enforcement officers smuggling supermatch cigarettes.
HOW THE SUSPECTS WERE NETTED
A total of 2,832 ‘bombas’ of smuggled Super Match Cigarettes worth US$ 41,585 were impounded, thanks to a disclosure by an arrested suspect.
Following his arrest Sunday close to Bwaise, a suburb, detained Constance Ojambo offered intelligence during an interrogation about a house in Kisaasi, another suburb where more cigarettes were tucked away.
Several staff including security personnel stealthy moved to the location. Upon gaining access to the premises, the officers were bewildered by what they saw.
From wall to wall lay sacks of Super Match cigarettes. And in the compound was aToyota Premio (UBB 151X), which also contained sacks of cigarettes. A suspect, Majid Wandera was netted while packing cigarettes into the vehicle.
Wandera, led the team to his “boss” Francis Yeko Were (in purple striped shirt), said to be the ‘mastermind’ who was duly arrested in Tororo, Eastern Uganda.
Physical verification of the recovered contraband at the Nakawa Customs warehouse revealed the following;
– 22 cartons x 125 ‘bombas’ x 10 packets x 20 pieces of Super Match Cigarettes made in Kenya .
– 82 ‘bombas’ x 10 packets x 20 pieces of Super Match Cigarettes made in Kenya .
– Total ( 2,832 ‘bombas’ of Super Match Cigarettes worth USD 41,585 )
The three suspects are to appear in court as the crackdown on smuggling continues. The two vehicles used in the smuggling operation are to be forfeited to the state.
