Travellers Warned as KRA Intercepts Undeclared iPhones Worth Ksh8.2M at JKIA

Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) Customs officers at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) have intercepted 40 undeclared iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max phones valued at Ksh8.2 million.

In an update on Thursday, October 1, the authority said the devices were intercepted during a customs operation at the airport as authorities stepped up checks on goods brought into the country by travellers.

"KRA Customs officers at JKIA intercepted 40 undeclared iPhone 18 Pro/Pro Max phones worth Ksh8.2M at JKIA," the update read.

According to KRA, the passenger linked to the intercepted phones had travelled from Dubai and had entered Kenya four times within a period of nine days.

The authority said the passenger admitted that he was transporting the phones on behalf of another person based in Dubai.

"A passenger from Dubai, who had entered Kenya 4 times in 9 days, admitted he was a courier for a Dubai client," the update added.

KRA said travellers should exercise caution when accepting to transport goods on behalf of other people.

"KRA warns travellers against carrying undeclared goods for third parties," the update further read.

This comes a day after KRA explained changes to excise duty affecting bottled water, fruit and vegetable juices, specified imported sugar, antique vehicles, betting and gaming deposits.

In an update on Wednesday, September 30, the authority said the changes were intended to apply differently across various categories of goods and services.

"While excise duty has been removed from some products and reduced on selected services, new duties have also been introduced on specific goods and services," the update read.

KRA noted that consumers and businesses needed to identify the specific category applicable to them to understand how the changes affected them.

Bottled water was among the products whose excise duty was completely removed under the changes.

For fruit and vegetable juices, the applicable rate depended on whether the products contained added sugar or sweeteners. Juices without added sugar retained an excise duty of Ksh14.14 per litre.

However, fruit and vegetable juices containing added sugar or sweeteners attracted a higher excise duty of Ksh20 per litre.

Specified imported sugar was also affected, with an excise duty of Ksh40 per kilogram applying to the category, subject to stated exclusions.

The changes further introduced an excise duty on antique, vintage and classic vehicles, which are charged at a rate equivalent to 50 percent of their excisable value.

Betting, including betting on horse racing, and gaming deposits are charged an excise duty of 5 percent on the amount deposited for betting purposes.