The Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) has intercepted about 4.5 tonnes of smuggled Pakistan rice concealed beneath dried cassava in a late-night operation in Kamuli District.
The consignment, comprising 180 bags of rice, was intercepted at about 3 a.m. on August 20 after an intelligence-led operation by URA enforcement officers based in Iganga.
According to URA, the operation began on the evening of August 19 after its enforcement team received intelligence that a vehicle was carrying Pakistan rice hidden beneath dried cassava at a consolidation store in Namutumba District.
The consignment was reportedly being transported to Kampala through the Tirinyi Road corridor.
URA said the suspects appeared to have detected the movement of its enforcement vehicle and changed course, abandoning the main road in an attempt to evade surveillance.
“They abandoned the main route and turned towards rural roads through Kaliro and Kamuli, apparently hoping to shake off the surveillance,” the authority said.
The enforcement team, however, anticipated the diversion and mounted an interception along the suspected alternative route in Kamuli.
Officers stopped an Isuzu short-chassis truck, registration number UBG 574G, and conducted a search that uncovered 180 bags of Pakistan rice weighing approximately 4.5 tonnes beneath the dried cassava.
URA said the interception demonstrates the growing importance of intelligence and counter-intelligence in efforts to disrupt smuggling networks.
“The incident reveals that smuggling operations can sometimes come dressed in surprisingly ordinary clothing, in this case, arrive under a blanket of cassava. However, the cassava did not fool the intelligence,” URA said.
The authority said concealment is among the methods used by smugglers to evade customs enforcement, particularly by disguising taxable goods as ordinary agricultural produce.
URA said effective intelligence-led operations are therefore critical because concealed consignments can otherwise evade routine checks and checkpoints.
Tax and customs implications
Rice imported from outside the East African Community is subject to customs duties, standards, inspection and other applicable import requirements, according to URA.
The authority warned that transporting rice without the required customs clearance, or deliberately concealing it to avoid customs controls and taxes, amounts to a smuggling offence.
“Rice transported without the required customs clearance or concealed to evade tax constitutes a smuggling offence,” URA said.
The interception adds to URA’s enforcement efforts against illicit trade, which deprives the government of tax revenue while allowing goods to enter the market outside the regulatory and customs framework.
The seized consignment is expected to be handled in accordance with applicable customs and enforcement procedures as authorities continue efforts to combat the movement of smuggled goods into Uganda.
