Economy

Uganda, Rwanda return luxury cars smuggled from the UK

toyota

A Toyota Land Cruiser that was recovered by the Rwanda National Police as it was being smuggled to Rwanda from DR Congo. PHOTO | SULEIMAN MBATIAH

Uganda and Rwanda have returned dozens of luxury cars stolen from the UK in yet another highlight of the vehicle smuggling racket that has lately rocked the East African common market even as the Kenya Revenue Authority announced suspension of dozens of customs officers over cargo diversion.

The Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) reported that at least 24 cars – among them BMWs, Lexus, Audis and Range Rovers – worth Sh148 million (£1 million) were shipped back to owners in UK.

“The stolen cars from the UK are 24 in number. An assortment of top of the range BMWs, Audis, Range Rovers and a Lincoln,” said URA through its Twitter handle.

Last year, British police said every year high-end cars valued at £400 million get stolen from the UK and are later sold to unsuspecting clients in the East Africa markets.

The car smuggling racket is said to be orchestrated by organised criminal gangs with huge networks in the regional markets. The gangs are known to hide stolen cars in containers and shipping them disguised as furniture.

READ: How savvy Kenyans get luxury cars on a budget

The vehicles are sold with fake documentation or one acquired through unscrupulous means.

The Rwanda government also Tuesday handed over a Range Rover Sport V8 recovered in its territory last year to the UK authorities . The car was stolen in 2004.

Kenyan car dealers have recently expressed outrage over the influx of cheaper vehicles, either diverted from Uganda-bound cargo or rerouted once cleared.

On Tuesday, KRA commissioner-general John Njiraini announced that a number of customs officials have been sent home following investigations into the cargo diversion racket.

The investigation found that some KRA staff were working in collusion with traders to re-route cargo meant for landlocked states back to Kenya.

Poor border enforcement has of late been a big challenge to authorities, with the laxity allowing the movement of illegals goods within the neighbouring countries.