The recent commissioning of three additional scanners, donated by China, at the Port of Mombasa is therefore a major milestone in sealing revenue leakages and in the fight against illegal importation and exportation of restricted and prohibited goods.
The World Trade Organisation (WTO) forecasts that global trade will rise by 3.6 per cent by the end of 2017. This rapid growth in international trade evidenced by cargo volumes, travellers and conveyances presents increasingly new challenges.
They include security threats of terrorism, illegal trade in natural resources, trade in substances that pose a threat to public health and safety, illicit financial flows (money laundering) as well as sea piracy.
Cargo inspection therefore, is a critical aspect in safeguarding the supply chain security and protection of society against organised transnational crimes.
For the last 15 years, the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has employed modern cargo inspection tools through use of x-ray cargo scanning systems at the Mombasa seaport and airports.
The use of non-intrusive inspection equipment is consistent with the World Customs Organisation’s Safe Framework of Standards.
The recent commissioning of three additional scanners, donated by China, at the Port of Mombasa is therefore a major milestone in sealing revenue leakages and in the fight against illegal importation and exportation of restricted and prohibited goods.
The launch and deployment of these scanners will increase the port’s throughput capacity to scan up to 1,000 containers per day while at the same time increasing considerably the KRA scanner assets under the National Scanner Solution framework.
Kenya serves as the gateway to East and Central Africa through the Port of Mombasa, which is both a transport and a logistics hub for the Northern Corridor Region.
In 2015/2016, the x-ray cargo scanning unit at the Port of Mombasa made a number of high profile interceptions. At one point, nine top of the range vehicles concealed as bicycles and toys from the United Kingdom and on transit to Uganda were intercepted.
Investigation into the syndicate was able to unearth more vehicles which had been registered irregularly.
Other cases involved over 21 containers of new garments disguised as cold rooms as well as three containers of milk powder disguised as gypsum boards. Further, undeclared electronics, spare parts, ivory and sandalwood under CITES were also intercepted through scanning over the same period.
Apart from the interception of contraband goods, the scanners have also helped prevent perpetrators of the criminal activities from dumping cheap, substandard and harmful products in the local market to the detriment of the citizens.
KRA expects to receive another donation of 10 Baggage Scanners from the Peoples’ Republic of China for airport terminals to boost customer facilitation.
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