The Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) customs enforcement recently successfully foiled a smuggling operation involving two bike riders attempting to traffic nine cartons of contraband cigarettes from Elegu to Mbale, a distance of 363 kilometres, by night.
According to URA, they received intelligence about a consolidation centre for smuggled cigarettes, which was located in a residence near the Elegu market. The centre was used by bike riders who loaded their bikes with cartons of cigarettes disguised as tomatoes for conveyance from Lira to Mbale.
“Intel was brought in hot about a consolidation centre for smuggled cigarettes, a residence near Elegu market where brave biker boys would load their bikes with cartons of cigarettes disguised as tomatoes for conveyance through Lira to Mbale. The team went in swiftly.” URA said
The enforcement team moved in swiftly and found two packages that looked like tomatoes on face value. However, upon closer inspection, they discovered the cartons of cigarettes hidden beneath the disguise.
“Once there, the team found and recovered two packages which looked like tomatoes on face value but once the ‘kadeeyas’ – poked with holes to seal the deception were peeled away, beneath the thin veil of succulent tomatoes were cartons of interest,” URA added.
