Four Tanzanian nationals were on Thursday convicted by a Mombasa court in Kenya for smuggling uncustomed goods in the country.
One of the convict, a driver was sentenced to a one-year imprisonment or an alternative of Ksh258,000 after he was found guilty of smuggling uncustomed goods in Kenya, imported from Tanzania.
The court also ordered the goods to be forfeited to the Commissioner of Customs and Border Control, under the Kenya Revenue Authority.
Nganzi Mohamed Abdalla, the driver of the mini-bus vehicle used to transport the goods, including purified water, Energy drinks and juice products, was arraigned before Mombasa Chief Magistrate Alex Ithuku charged with conveying uncustomed goods. He pleaded guilty to the charges.
Three other Tanzanian nationals Khalifa Abdalla Seif, Issa Ismail Issah and Nasoro Abdalla Seif, who were jointly charged in connection to the same goods were fined Ksh12,282.50 each after they too pleaded guilty to a charge of being in possession of the uncustomed goods.
The court also ordered the good to be forfeited to the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA).
Meanwhile, Kenya Revenue Authority successfully applied for the forfeiture of the goods to the Commissioner for Customs and Border Control. An application by the Authority for forfeiture of the mini-bus is awaiting determination by the Court.
The Chief Magistrate Alex Ithuku summoned the owner of the vehicle to appear before the court on March 13, 2025 to show cause why the vehicle should not be forfeited to the Commissioner for Customs and Border Control.
According to Kenya Revenue Authority, the four convicted persons were found in possession of the goods on January 11 2025, at Simba Coach stage in Mwembe Tayari area within Mombasa County, Kenya. The excisable goods were not affixed with valid excise duty stamps on being intercepted.
