URA intercepts 800 smuggled phones in Benz
The URA team had been tipped and that ‘following a night-long stakeout, the Iganga enforcement team tracked the car to Mayuge along Namayingo Road’.
The URA Enforcement team intercepted a Mercedes Benz ML350 in Iganga while attempting to smuggle over 800 button phones. (Courtesy photos)
New Vision Journalist
Journalist @New Vision
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The Uganda Revenue Authority says it has intercepted a Mercedes-Benz driver smuggling over 800 phones in Iganga district after a high-speed chase: Gangster style from Mayuge district.
The taxman says the chase on Sunday, May 11, 2025, involved revenue officers and an ‘unmistakable, ultra-prestigious and a 'gentle beast' on the road, the Mercedes Benz ML350’. The ML350 is a sporty and visually appealing sports utility vehicle.
“The URA Enforcement team intercepted a Mercedes Benz ML350 in Iganga while attempting to smuggle over 800 button phones (Yes, bukapeesa),” URA posted on X, formerly Twitter, on May 15, 2025.
The URA team had been tipped and that ‘following a night-long stakeout, the Iganga enforcement team tracked the car to Mayuge along Namayingo Road’.
“Despite the Benz’s high-performance engine, the team pursued with stealth and tact. At 6:00am, he was cornered and apprehended,” URA said.
After a search of the vehicle after being impounded at the Iganga Police Station ‘860 ITEL phones, including various models like Itel5626, Itel5606, Itel5032A, and Itel2160N, all dual or triple SIM’ were discovered.
The economic cost of smuggling in Uganda is staggering. In March 2022, URA estimated the cost to Uganda's economy shillings 30 billion.
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