By Maria Mariam Namala
KAMPALA.The Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) said on Friday its enforcement officers seized 70 cartons of smuggled Supermatch cigarettes after a midnight pursuit in Pakwach .
The chase ended with the arrest of a suspected smuggler, in the latest operation targeting illicit tobacco trade that costs the government billions of shillings in lost tax revenue each year.
“Armed with a tip from a trusted informer, the Pakwach Enforcement Team intercepted a Toyota Hilux, registration UBF 488G, suspected of transporting contraband cigarettes. After a pursuit, the driver stopped the vehicle in the middle of the road and all three occupants fled on foot,” URA said in a statement.
The authority said officers apprehended one suspect, identified only as “Ntambala”, while two other occupants escaped.
The suspect was taken to Pakwach Central Police Station to face smuggling charges.
“The abandoned pickup was found carrying 70 cartons of Supermatch cigarettes. During questioning, the suspect disclosed the source of the contraband and pledged to cooperate with investigators in recovering the remaining consignments,” URA said.
The seizure is part of an intensified nationwide crackdown on illicit tobacco products, particularly cigarettes smuggled through Uganda’s northern, eastern and western border corridors.
In December 2024, URA destroyed 36.64 tonnes of illicit cigarettes worth Shs1.68 billion, mostly Supermatch, Oris, Platinum, Business Royal and Blue brands, saying the contraband represented an estimated Shs6.73 billion in lost tax revenue.
URA has stepped up intelligence-led operations against smuggling networks over the past two years, reporting multiple interceptions of illicit cigarettes concealed in hidden vehicle compartments and mixed with legitimate cargo.
The authority says smuggled tobacco products evade excise duty and other taxes, allowing them to be sold more cheaply than legally imported or manufactured products while undermining compliant businesses and depriving the government of revenue.
URA did not disclose the tax value of the latest seizure or identify the source of the cigarettes, saying investigations are continuing.