URA-Tanzania joint operation seizes smuggled goods worth over Shs140m

Cross-border operations between the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA), the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA), and relevant security agencies have led to the seizure of smuggled goods and vehicles worth more than shs141 million at the Mutukula border.

The operations followed a recent meeting between South Western Manager Rahuka Milton and Supervisor Enforcement Elvis Kairanga, and their Tanzanian counterparts.

The proposal was approved and quickly put into action by both teams after intelligence reports indicated that smugglers were preparing to move goods into Uganda through porous border points.

In the first operation conducted on the night of Friday, May 22, enforcement teams laid an ambush in the areas of Koza and Kabakesa.

At about 5:00am on Saturday, officers on surveillance spotted a Toyota Ipsum vehicle entering Uganda through a route known as Kirimiro heading towards Kasanvu.

“A chase lasting nearly one hour followed, forcing the suspected smuggler back into Tanzania, where the vehicle was abandoned in Kabakesa town,” Jimmy Muhindo, the South Western Region enforcement officer, narrated.

Recovered items included 100 cartons of Azam Energy Drink and a Toyota Ipsum registration number UAR 371F.

In a second operation conducted in the early hours of May 24, URA enforcement officers, working jointly with Tanzanian authorities, intercepted suspected habitual smuggler Salim Mbajja and his group in Kalibatano after intelligence reports revealed they were transporting smuggled ladies’ fabric materials using a Fuso truck and two Canter trucks.

The recovered goods included 610 rolls of plain polyester material, 300 rolls of printed polyester material, 210 rolls of printed satin material, 52 rolls of plain satin material, 40 rolls of knitted net polyester material, and 300 polyester T-shirts.

The seized vehicles included a Fuso truck registration number UBK 358J and two Canter trucks registration numbers UBD 502G and UBM 341Q.

According to Muhindo, the operations mark a new approach in combating smuggling at the Mutukula border.

“These operations will strengthen compliance while reducing revenue leakages,” he affirmed.