The Kenya Revenue Authority has destroyed an assortment of illicit goods worth sh.500 million.
In the exercise that took place at the destruction site at EPZ in Athi River, KRA destroyed illicit goods seized from the market worth half a billion shillings with an estimated tax value of sh.150 million.
The goods were confiscated by the Inter-Agency Teams in a move to protect society against illicit products and enhance a competitive business environment to promote legitimate trade.
The illicit goods comprised of alcoholic beverages, cigarettes, and ethanol amongst others, which had been impounded during various Inter-agency operations executed countrywide, in the financial year 2022/2023.
Speaking during the event at the destruction site at EPZ in Athi River, the Deputy Commissioner for Domestic Taxes Department, Enforcement Division Mutembei Nyagah said “The goods had been condemned and declared counterfeit as they did not comply with various legal statutes including the Excise Duty Act 2015 and Excisable Goods Management System Act Regulations (EGMS).”
He added that it was an offence to be in possession of any excisable product imported or manufactured by unlicensed persons.
Commending the Inter-agency team for the initiative, Alcoholic Beverages of Kenya Chair Eric Githua stated that illicit goods had devastated the lives of many young people, and called on the public to remain vigilant against such products.
KRA notifies all traders and the general public that it is an offense to distribute, offer for sale, or be in possession of any excisable goods manufactured or imported by unlicensed persons.
The updated list of licensed manufacturers and importers of excisable goods is available on the KRA website.
