Entebbe, Uganda – As the financial year came to a close, the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) enforcement and border control team intercepted a new wave of smuggling attempts, this time cloaked in creativity and couture.
In a bold effort to outsmart customs enforcement, smugglers resorted to fashion-assisted concealment, modifying clothing to smuggle high-value electronics through airport checkpoints.
The operation turned Entebbe International Airport into an unintentional runway for contraband couture: corsets, garters, padded leggings, and multi-pocketed jackets designed not for style, but for stealth.
However, the URA team, operating with vigilance and precision, was well-prepared.
In one case, a female traveler was caught with 32 brand-new Samsung smartphones strapped tightly to her torso and thighs, her layered clothing disguising the load as part of her physique.
Another woman’s exaggerated body contour, initially assumed to be a cosmetic enhancement, was revealed to be an artificial padding concealing 24 additional phones.
Several Eritrean and Sudanese nationals were also intercepted with contraband hidden on their bodies. In a particularly striking case, officers noticed a male passenger with an unnatural “hump” on his back.
While it mimicked a medical condition, his unbothered gait raised red flags.
A physical search revealed a corset tightly wrapped with 23 Samsung A23 phones around his chest.
In total, 427 assorted mobile phones, valued at approximately $35,000, were seized during the operation.
“This is a clear reminder that smuggling knows no gender,” said one URA official. “As fashion evolves, so do the tactics of smugglers, but so too does our ability to detect and deter them.”
The URA has reaffirmed its commitment to tightening border surveillance and applying both human and technological intelligence to combat smuggling and revenue loss.
