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Penalties for breaking Customs seals and route deviation

According to the EAC Customs Management Act (EAC CMA 2024), there are offenses and related penalties for breaking Customs seals and route deviation as illustrated in the below table.

Section of the EAC CMA	Guide note	Explanatory Offense	Penality
104	Coasting vessel and goods, not to deviate from voyage.	Master or agent of any coasting aircraft or vessel that deviates from its voyage or discharged any goods must report and account to the satisfaction of the proper officer.	Contravention offender liable to a fine not exceeding US$5000 and the goods shall be forfeited; aircraft and vessel shall be detained until the fine is paid.
195	Removing or defacing customs seals	No person shall willfully remove any Customs seal from any ship, aircraft, vehicle, train or package without the proper officer or willfully alters, defaces, obliterates or imitates, any mark placed by an officer	Contravention commits an offence and shall be liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years or to a fine not exceeding US$2500 or both.
205	Offence to interfere with Customs gear.	No person shall cut away, cast adrift, destroy damage, deface, or in any way interfere with, any aircraft, vessel, vehicle, buoy, anchor, chain, rope, mark, or other thing used for the purpose of Customs.	Contravention, commits an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding US$2500.

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