In a high-stakes operation dubbed ‘Big Eye,’ the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) has intercepted a sophisticated smuggling ring at Entebbe International Airport, recovering 807 smartphones worth $42,626 (Shs162 million).
This seizure comes as part of an intensified effort by the URA to combat growing illicit trade at the country’s main air transport hub, with smugglers increasingly resorting to bizarre tactics to evade detection.
One of the most shocking incidents involved a woman who, pretending to be heavily pregnant, was stopped for a routine search.
Upon further inspection, customs officers uncovered that the woman’s “baby bump” was, in fact, a cleverly concealed stash of 76 smartphones.
In another attempt to bypass security, a different smuggler feigned suffering from elephantiasis, strapping several phones to her legs with airline baggage tags.
But the ingenuity of the smugglers didn’t stop there. In yet another audacious attempt, a suspect abandoned a bag full of high-end smartphones in a dustbin, likely intending to return later and retrieve it.
However, URA customs officers, tipped off and ever vigilant, were ready and waiting to intercept the illicit goods before they could be reclaimed.
Sylvester Kiwanuka, manager of customs at Entebbe, expressed his satisfaction with his team’s sharp attention to detail and their quick response to the smuggling attempts.
“Smugglers keep getting creative, but so do we,” Kiwanuka said. “Our vigilance ensures that such illegal activities do not go unchecked.”
Customs officials have reported a disturbing surge in inventive concealment methods. These include hiding phones inside traditional wear like ‘sharias’ and tunics, stashing contraband in factory-sealed household appliances such as vacuum cleaners, and even embedding phones within brand-new tablets.
As URA moves forward with the offence management procedures, they have emphasized the importance of stricter border security measures to prevent further loss of revenue through illicit trade.
This latest operation highlights URA’s continued commitment to cracking down on smuggling and protecting Uganda’s vital tax base from exploitation by criminal networks.
