By Our Reporter
The Entebbe enforcement team intercepted 1,172 packets of button phone screens and 22,837 packets of LCD/LED phone screens, valued at USD 90000 last week. This operation targeted high-value items since the smartphone era has created a rising demand for spare parts. As a result, smugglers are rushing these goods into the market without paying duties.
The Entebbe Enforcement and Border Control team focused on the ‘Kadamas’, who are usually promised a quick buck for ferrying bags without declaring them to customs.
In one case during a peak hour at the airport, with three major flights on the ground, a group of ‘kadamas’ was intercepted while attempting to push suitcases past customs without scanning them, using the high passenger volume as cover. However, a vigilant border control officer flagged them for verification to confirm the contents of their bags. The ‘kadamas’ refused to comply, creating a minor scene and claiming, “All we have are items for home use and used clothes.”
The three ladies lingered near the scanner area, clearly considering an escape. As the crowd around the scanner grew, one of them suddenly pivoted, and together with her companions, they bolted out of the arrivals terminal, pushing their trolleys with baggage in tow.
This situation prompted the officers to spring into action, leading to a chase that culminated in the parking lot. The trio’s getaway car was already prepared, with the engine running and the trunk open. The enforcement and border control officer successfully retrieved six suitcases, which, when opened, revealed phone screens concealed beneath layers of used clothing.
Similarly, Surveillance of the operation area rewarded another officer with four bags full of phone screens, which had been “abandoned” near the handler’s offices with the owner buying time to smuggle them out. Similarly, another Airlines handler was stopped by the Enforcement and border control officers attempting to smuggle out three suitcases packed nearly to burst which were disguised as “rush bags”.
In another incident, officers received intelligence about passengers consolidating items in the parking lot. The operation involved distributing packs of phone screens on the plane, where they broke bulk and divided the items at the luggage belt and in the restrooms, with each passenger carrying a few pieces. Upon arriving at the parking lot, the phone screens were handed over to the owner and loaded into his car.
At the end of the day, as the “investor” was loading his car, pleased with his gains, an Enforcement and Border Control officer who had been monitoring him from a distance ambushed him unexpectedly. As a result, they recovered 3,175 phone screens, 4 MacBook Airs, and 20 assorted smartphones.
Smart phone screens, like any other imports, are subjected to the importation guidelines as stipulated in the East Africa Community Customs Management Act (EACCMA) 2004, as amended they are required to pay import duty, VAT of 18%, WHT of 6% and Infrastructural levy of 1.5%
Concealment of goods with the aim to smuggle contravenes section 202 where penalty is 50% of the value while failure to declare the goods to a Customs officer contravenes sections 45 and 46 of the EACCMA and penalty is handled according to section 209 of the EACCMA.
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