KRA Intercepts 52 Refurbished Mobile Phones and Three Drones at JKIA Using Baggage Scanners: 17th Oct 2026
on 17th Oct 2026 Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has intercepted 52 refurbished assorted mobile phones and three drones at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in an operation that highlights the critical role of baggage-scanning technology in detecting goods suspected of being smuggled into the country.
The interception occurred during the clearance of arriving passengers at the airport when Customs officers noticed an airport employee, specifically a cleaner, carrying two black backpacks as she exited the terminal. Upon being noticed by the officers, the worker attempted to flee but was intercepted for further questioning.
During interrogation, the airport employee told the officers that a female passenger had handed her the two bags and requested her to take them through Customs. The officers subsequently subjected the backpacks to screening using a CT baggage scanner, which revealed the presence of drones and assorted mobile phones.
Following the discovery, Customs officers traced the female passenger, who had arrived in the country aboard an international flight. The passenger confirmed that she had handed the two backpacks to the airport worker while using the restrooms. A further review of the passenger’s travel documents established that she was a frequent traveller.
Customs officers proceeded to conduct a physical verification of the contents of the bags in the presence of both the passenger and the airport worker. The verification established that the bags contained 52 refurbished assorted mobile phones and three drones, alongside drone controllers, batteries and other accessories.
The items recovered included two DJI Mini 3 Pro drones, two controllers and two batteries, as well as one DJI Air 25 drone, its controller, battery and accessories. Other items included mobile phone chargers, travel adapters, USB cables, screen protectors and personal effects.
The intercepted goods were secured and deposited at the Customs warehouse pending further action.
The interception underscores the importance of baggage scanners in strengthening border controls and supporting the detection of goods that may be concealed or moved through unauthorised channels. KRA continues to strengthen its use of technology and risk-based passenger screening to facilitate legitimate travel and trade while addressing attempts to circumvent Customs controls.
The latest interception also demonstrates the importance of vigilance among Customs officers and the need to ensure that all goods brought into the country comply with applicable import requirements.
ISO 9001:2015 CERTIFIED
The importation of drones into Kenya is restricted and requires the relevant authorisation from the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA). Travellers and importers are therefore required to establish and comply with the applicable regulatory requirements before bringing drones into the country.
The Authority remains committed to safeguarding government revenue, protecting the integrity of Kenya’s borders and facilitating compliant passenger movement through the strategic deployment of technology, intelligence and effective enforcement measures..
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OTHER KRA LATEST NEWS
15th October, 2026 KRA Busts KSh 4 Billion VAT Fraud 'Missing Trader Scheme' as KSh 33.8 Billion in Fake Invoices Uncovered The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), through its Investigations and Enforcement Department, has uncovered a sophisticated tax fraud scheme also commonly known as ‘Missing Trader Scheme’, involving fictitious electronic invoices used to facilitate fraudulent input Value Added Tax (VAT) claims. KRA has submitted thirty-seven (37) inquiry files to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) for review and appropriate action. KRA’s investigations established that 72 related entities were used to perpetrate the scheme between 2020 and 2025.
The entities transmitted 62,869 electronic invoices through the electronic Tax Invoice Management System (eTIMS), valued at approximately KSh 33.83 billion, with corresponding VAT of KSh 5.37 billion. Further investigations revealed that taxpayers purporting to have purchased goods and services from the identified entities subsequently declared purchases worth approximately KSh 25.07 billion, resulting in input VAT claims amounting to approximately KSh 3.996 billion. Investigations established significant indicators that the entities generating the invoices did not undertake genuine business activities. Several were nil or non-filers for VAT, did not file income tax returns, had no PAYE obligations and, despite the scale of transactions attributed to them, could not be physically located at their registered business premises. Evidence further indicated that some entities appeared to exist primarily to generate invoices without corresponding underlying transactions. KRA’s digital forensic analysis identified linkages between taxpayer entities, electronic devices, telephone numbers and individuals associated with the generation and transmission of the invoices. The investigation also identified instances of internal facilitation involving KRA staff profiles, which are being subjected to appropriate internal and legal processes. Following completion of investigations, KRA forwarded 57 inquiry files to the Director of Public Prosecutions, who approved the prosecution of 42 individuals, companies and company directors. Six suspects have already been apprehended and are expected to face charges including fraud in relation to tax and aiding another person to commit an offence under a tax law, among other offences. ISO 9001:2015 CERTIFIED PUBLIC KRA wishes to advise businesses that knowingly purchase, accept or use fictitious invoices to support illegitimate input VAT claims that they are not merely beneficiaries of a tax arrangement but are also participants in tax fraud and therefore liable to criminal and civil sanctions as prescribed in the law. KRA is deploying eTIMS intelligence, data analytics, digital forensics, financial investigations and inter-agency cooperation to identify artificial transactions, trace the beneficiaries and facilitators behind fraudulent VAT arrangements and recover revenue lost through such schemes. The Authority has commenced action to disallow unsupported input VAT claims, recover resulting tax liabilities, reverse fraudulent eTIMS transmissions and disable relevant eTIMS devices and tax obligations, in accordance with the law. KRA encourages taxpayers who are beneficiaries or victims of the fraudulent VAT arrangements to come forward and regularise their tax affairs. The Authority will continue to take firm enforcement action against deliberate tax evasion and fraudulent manipulation of tax systems. KRA is committed to protecting compliant taxpayers, safeguarding Government revenue and maintaining the integrity of Kenya’s tax system. KRA is appealing to members of the public, taxpayers and businesses with information concerning persons, companies or networks involved in the generation, sale, purchase or use of fictitious VAT invoices to come forward and share such information with the Authority. All information received shall be kept confidential and identity of informant kept 100% anonymous.
To report tax fraud, visit https://iwhistle.kra.go.ke/welcome/ or call : +254 20 4 999 999 or +254 711 099 999 for guidance. ~COMMISSIONER, INVESTIGATIONS AND ENFORCEMENT
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KRA Customs Revenue Hits KES 90.05 Billion in September, Exceeding Target by KES 965 Million
on 12th October, 2026 KRA Customs Revenue Hits KES 90.05 Billion in September, Exceeding Target by KES 965 Million Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) Customs and Border Control Department collected KES 90.053 billion in September 2026, exceeding its Treasury target by KES 965 million and sustaining its strong revenue performance in the 2026/2027 Financial Year.
The collection surpassed the target of KES 89.088 billion, translating to a performance rate of 101.1 per cent. It also represented a 5.8 per cent growth compared to the KES 85.146 billion collected in September 2025. The performance was underpinned by strong growth in non-oil revenue collections, which reached KES 57.199 billion against a target of KES 55.422 billion, exceeding the target by KES 1.778 billion. The growth in non-oil revenue was driven by a 25.6 per cent increase in the overall value of imports, with bulk cargo growing by 49.2 per cent. The increase in bulk cargo was mainly attributed to imports of fertilisers, iron and steel, palm oil and its fractions, and rice, among other commodities. The number of imported Motor Vehicles and Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) handled for containerised cargo also increased by 8.1 per cent and 8.2 per cent, respectively. The results underscore the role of effective Customs administration in facilitating legitimate trade while safeguarding government revenue. KRA continues to strengthen compliance through technology-driven customs processes and enhanced enforcement against illicit trade and revenue leakage. The Authority is also implementing reforms to make Customs operations more efficient, transparent and predictable for traders. These include the introduction of Advance Cargo Declaration (ACD) and the increased use of data to strengthen cargo risk management, improve the processing of customs declarations and enhance the identification of high-risk consignments. The September performance reinforces KRA’s commitment to mobilising revenue required to finance the Government’s development priorities, support economic growth and strengthen the country’s fiscal position. The Authority will continue to pursue reforms that improve compliance, enhance operational efficiency and create a fair and predictable trading environment for businesses. COMMISSIONER, CUSTOMS & BORDER CONTROL.
SMUGGLED SUGAR INTERCEPTIONS
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KRA Seizes 358 Laptops, iPads and Accessories in KSh 13 Million Kileleshwa Haul
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KRA Intercepts 10,000 litres concealed ethanol-1
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