Port workers and officials from Kenya Revenue Authority watch as one of the four containers loaded with three V8 Range Rovers and a Mercedes Benz is loaded into a ship to be shipped back to Britain. [Gideon Maundu/Standard]
Four top-of-the-range vehicles stolen in the United Kingdom and shipped to Mombasa Port have finally been sent back to their country of origin.
During a brief ceremony presided over by Dr Daniel Manduku, the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) Managing Director, at the Port of Mombasa, two Black Range Rover Vogue Autobiography, a Black Range Rover Sport and a White Mercedes Benz GLE were put into containers and loaded aboard MSC Levina.
“We are today sending a clear message that the Port of Mombasa will never be used for illicit trade,’’ the MD said.
The vehicles being shipped back to the UK were stolen in Berkshire, London and Oxfordshire.
Kenya Revenue Authority Commissioner for Intelligence and Strategic Operations, Dr Tere Saidimu said that Kenyan and British authorities have been working together to ensure stolen vehicles are returned to their country of origin.
In June, 2019, two vehicles - a Range Rover Sport and a BMW - were successfully shipped back to the UK. “The Kenyan government launched an energised campaign to fight illicit trade. This included heightened surveillance and enforcement measures at all ports of entry and exit,’’ he said.
British High Commission First Secretary Waqar Qureshi lauded the support accorded to UK agencies by Kenyan authorities.
‘’The Navcis, Interpol, National Crime Agency and local UK Police from various sea ports around UK have been coordinating to identify and seize high end, high value vehicles that have been stolen in the UK,’’ he said.
