“Taka Taka” Trickster Busted! URA Nets DRC Smuggler With Boatload Of Contraband

By Our Reporter

A suspected cross-border smuggler, who had long eluded enforcement officers through elaborate disguises, has finally been apprehended in a joint operation following a tip-off from an informant in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

Known for packaging illicit items in small, inconspicuous quantities under the guise of “taka taka” (waste material), the smuggler had for months slipped through the fingers of enforcement officers. However, this time, an unusually large consignment raised suspicion, prompting an urgent alert.

Acting swiftly, the enforcement team tracked the suspect’s movements and intercepted his vessel shortly after crossing into Uganda.

Upon boarding, officers uncovered several suspicious packages concealed under a tarpaulin. A thorough inspection revealed an assortment of dutiable and non-dutiable goods, including contraband cosmetics, personal care products, vegetable cooking oil, rice, solar batteries, fishing nets, and a substantial cache of cigarettes.

Offence management procedures are currently underway, with the possibility of prosecution under customs and border control laws.

Geoffrey Benyweza, a customs officer in Nsonga, commended the vigilance of informers and reaffirmed URA’s commitment to curbing smuggling and protecting the country’s borders from illicit trade.

“This operation sends a clear message that the era of hiding behind ‘taka taka’ is over. We are watching, and we will act,” Benyweza emphasised.