The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has voiced concerns over a concerning new trend involving the unrestricted entry of prohibited and restricted items, such as firearms, sex toys and explicit material, into the country.
According to a statement released on Tuesday, November 07, KRA noted that this worrying trend has gained momentum over the last three months. KRA further notes that approximately 5 percent of scanned bags at entry points are being flagged for containing such contraband.
“From July to October of the financial year 2023/23, after non-intrusive scanning of all baggage, KRA, on average, flagged 5 percent of all scanned bags, which were then processed in accordance with applicable Customs regulations pertaining to passenger categorization,” the KRA statement reads.
In addition to guns and explicit material, the KRA also pointed out that other items have been frequently detected during the scanning process, including high-end mobile phones, drones, and narcotics.
This revelation comes in the wake of a recent exposé by the Tourism Cabinet Secretary during a media tour of the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).
During the media tour, various contraband items, including adult sex toys, were uncovered.
In light of these developments, travelers will now be required to declare certain prohibited materials before being granted entry into the country.
“We have further improved our processes through the use of technology to facilitate the accurate identification and verification of all baggage and imported items. Border control is a matter of national security, and we are committed to collaborating with relevant agencies to ensure the public is well-informed about the entry requirements into Kenya,” Wattanga stated.
