By Kamugisha Kabahweza
URA’s enforcement teams in Mbarara and Gulu have impounded two motor vehicles conveying 2,450 bombas of illegal cigarettes.
According to Frank Kanyike the in-charge Mbarara Enforcement, 750 bombas of Oris cigarettes were retrieved from a Tausi Bus Registration number UBN 345E in Lyantonde.
“The contraband cigarettes will be transported to Kampala and later be destroyed,” Kanyike explained.
Meanwhile, on Monday, the Gulu team seized 1,700 bombas of Supermatch cigarettes made in Uganda for export only.
The In-Charge, Gulu Enforcement John Lubakwidha clarified that the means of conveyance, a Toyota Wish Registration number UBJ 359T was held near Pabbo Town Council along the Lamogi Ber road.
“The driver of the Wish chose to go off the main Gulu-Elegu road and he joined Lamogi Ber road where he was shortly intercepted, handcuffed and later delivered to Gulu Logistics Hub station with his car fully loaded with supermatch cigarettes,” Lubakwidha said.
He noted that the Supermatch cigarettes meant for export were loaded onto the Toyota Wish in Atiak Town, Amuru District.
In both cases, offence management is ongoing.
Recently, British American Tobacco (BAT) met with the URA Senior Management on the rampant smuggling of contraband cigarettes and requested URA to order cigarette manufacturers to batch the cigarette Bombas and provide URA with the batch numbers to curtail the illicit trade.
URA is in the process of destroying all contraband cigarettes that have been impounded over time.
