Five Luxury Cars Stolen from the UK Seized in Kenya

Officers from Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) on Friday seized five luxury cars and two motorbikes that were allegedly stolen from the United Kingdom and illegally shipped to Kenya.

The high-end vehicles, which were on transit to neighboring Uganda, were intercepted at the port of Mombasa in a joint operation conducted by Kenya, the UK, and international security agents.

KRA customs enforcement officers, Interpol, UK's Metropolitan Police Service, Kenya's Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and other agencies were involved in the operation.

The cars include a Range Rover Vogue, Range Rover Sport, BMW 530d, BMW X5, and Volkswagen Tiguan. The vehicles and motorcycles were packed in two separate containers.

“The bill of lading for the container with the three vehicles and two motorcycles indicated the cargo was shipped from the Port of Jabel Ali, and that the consignor was Jason Abayomi, from London," said Kenneth Ochola, KRA’s southern region commissioner.

"The consignor’s address was flat 15145, Seymour Place, Mary Lesbone while the consignee was listed as Kwizera Gilbert Jimmy of Entebbe Kampala."

After verification, it was established that the Range Rover Sport was stolen on March 23rd, 2019, the Range Rover Vogue on May, 5th 2019 and the BMW 530d on May 8th, 2019. The BMW X5 was stolen on June 6th, 2019, the Volkswagen Tiguan on December 7th, 2018 while the motorcycles were stolen on April 12th and May 13th, 2019.

"It is believed that smuggled high-end vehicles are diverted to the local market, which hurts the motor vehicle industry. Further, proceeds from the illegal business are believed to be used to fund organized crime,” added Ochola.

Last November, KRA repatriated four stolen luxury vehicles back to the UK. KRA said the four were among 21 high-end cars intercepted at the port of Mombasa between March and September after being stolen abroad and shipped to Kenya.

Waqa Qureshi, the First Secretary at the British High Commissioner’s office in Nairobi said the 21 stolen vehicles are worth Sh130 million. 

The four cars included a Black Range Rover Sport stolen in London, a White Mercedes Benz GLE 25OD AMG stolen in Berkshire and a Black Range Rover Sport Autobiography stolen in Oxford Shire.