SMUGGLERS ON THE RUN! URA Ambushes Fabric Traffickers, Impounds Van Loaded with Textiles
Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) enforcement officers have intercepted suspected fabric smugglers and impounded a Toyota Noah loaded with textiles allegedly smuggled into the country.
The suspects were intercepted while travelling from Busia towards Kampala, after URA officers received intelligence about their movements and laid an ambush along suspected routes.
The vehicle, a Toyota Noah registration UBQ 794J, was reportedly loaded with fabrics picked from a consolidation store in Busia.
According to URA, enforcement officers spotted the vehicle at Magamaga Trading Centre, where its details matched information provided by their informers.
A dramatic chase then ensued as officers pursued the vehicle from Magamaga towards Jinja.
The chase ended at Kubili, where the driver reportedly abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot, leaving the suspected smuggled merchandise behind.
A physical inspection of the van uncovered 120 rolls of polyester poplin uniform material and five bales of kitengi fabric.
The interception came shortly after another URA operation in Iganga, where enforcement officers recovered a larger consignment of suspected smuggled fabrics.
In that operation, officers seized 100 bundles of kitenge fabric, 10 pieces of 25-yard gomesi material and 140 rolls of Dira material.
The suspects were arrested and taken in for further offence management as URA continued investigations into the alleged smuggling operations.
MUSINGUZI DECLARES WAR
URA Commissioner General John Musinguzi Rujoki has vowed that the Authority will continue hunting down smugglers and corrupt individuals operating along Uganda’s border points.
Musinguzi said URA has put in place several measures aimed at fighting corruption and illegal activities that undermine revenue collection.
“The authority has put in place several measures to combat corruption and illegal activity at border points. We would like to make the cost of smuggling and corruption very very high,” Musinguzi said.
The latest interceptions underscore URA’s increasingly aggressive enforcement operations targeting illegal trade and revenue leakages.
With intelligence-led ambushes, surveillance and physical inspections being deployed along suspected smuggling routes, URA is warning smugglers that border points and major transport corridors are no longer safe havens for illegal merchandise.
The Authority has maintained that smuggling not only deprives government of revenue but also puts compliant businesses at a disadvantage by allowing illegally imported goods to compete with legitimately traded merchandise.
The seized fabrics and detained suspects remain subject to further investigations and offence management by URA.
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