- July 2, 2020
- Posted by: Oliver Nzala
- Category: ZRA News
Zambia Revenue Authority alert officers at Chirundu One Stop Border Post have intercepted a truck carrying assorted brands of liquor worth K 1.2 million declared as onion.
During the inspection process, the alert officers noticed some discrepancies on the documents and the scanner report which prompted them to do a physical inspection of the consignment.
Upon opening the truck, it was discovered that all what was declared as onion was alcohol.
As a pure case of forgery, false representation and attempted smuggling contrary to the Customs and Excise Act, Chapter 322 of the Laws of Zambia, the truck was immediately impounded.
During media inspection of the truck on Tuesday 30th June 2020, ZRA Corporate Communications Manager Topsy Sikalinda expressed sadness that despite the various tax relief measures that government has put in place to support the business sector during the Covid-19 period, people have continued to think of smuggling as an option.
“We want to make it very clear to the owners of this consignment that this is a straight seizure, and we shall recommend for forfeiture of both the goods and truck to the state. We have always said that smuggling does not pay, this is what we mean. In this case the truck driver and the Clearing Agent have already been arrested and will appear in court soon,” he said.
He added that the Authority has further noticed that smugglers are now using transits as a main form of smuggling but that the long arm of the law was catching up with them.
Mr. Sikalinda has since appealed to all Zambians to report anyone evading or involved in smuggling of goods to any nearest ZRA office or call through 4111.
