Over 90 new and used iPhones that were left on the conveyor line on Sunday by an unidentified traveler have been retrieved, according to Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) Customs officials at Entebbe International Airport.
The unnamed passenger landed at Entebbe International Airport onboard Egypt Air with personal belongings, including two audio subwoofers, as reported by Acting Manager of Entebbe Customs Simon Esunget. subsequently the luggage was taken for a non-intrusive inspection using a baggage X-ray machine.
The subwoofers and the hidden smartphones were found during the examination. According to the tax authority, the phones were valued $60,000 (or about 222 million Shekels).
“Concealing of high-value items at various customs border posts is still common. However, X-ray scanners are playing a huge role in exposing schemes of notorious smugglers,” Mr Esunget said.
According to Mr. Ibrahim Bbossa, a spokesman for the URA, the revenue agency has tightened controls on passenger entries to assist legitimate travelers and prevent any instances of attempts to conceal unauthorized goods.
“URA has deployed non-intrusive inspection (NII) technology which has proved to be very effective in unearthing tricks used by travelers to smuggle in goods carried as personal baggage, an allowance given by the airlines,” Mr Bbbossa said.
According to Bbossa, the tax authority employs X-ray scanners at the various border crossings to protect income and improve supply chain safety and security by thoroughly inspecting cargo without tampering with it.