Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) Customs officers based at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) have today seized over Sh238 million in foreign currency from an intercepted traveler.
The suspect, a Kenya nationality identified as Paul Kemboi had arrived in the country from Bujumbura, Burundi.
According to officials from KRA’s Commissioner Customs and Border Control unit, the money that was packed as a parcel containing $2 million was seized following a wrongful declaration on the intended destination.
Upon arrival, the passenger is said to have made a declaration of the currency indicating the origin as Banque de Credit de Bujumbura (BCB) to a recipient identified as Brinks Global Services, Kenya.
After clearance by Customs Unit at the airport, the traveller again presented the same money at the Swissport Cargo shed with different export documents.
This time, he claimed the package was for shipment to Global Services, in the United Kingdom.
The documents produced to support the export request were different from those produced on entry into the country.
As a result of the inconsistencies in information provided by the passenger, KRA has invited Asset Recovery Agency (ARA) to assist in investigating the matter as a possible money-laundering attempt.
Agents suspect that the money could possibly belong to an unamed senior government official and was moved to Kenya through Burundi from Dubai, where Kemboi is purported to have initially travelled from.
If true, this would explain why Kemboi was brave and comfortable enough to casually carry around the huge sum of cash and even make false claims about its source.
The money has been held and the matter is under investigation.
