Now, with ZRA’s continued vigilance, smugglers are also not short of tricks. The Zambia Revenue Authority has intercepted and seized a truck, which smuggled 2,222 cases of alcoholic beverages with estimated potential revenue loss of K4.2 million.
This is after our Mobile Enforcement Unit received intelligence information that there was a truck that was offloading beer in a named truck yard in Lusaka. The alcohol was covered with bags of maize bran, commonly known as Gaga, and used to feed chickens.
The alcohol covered under the maize bran was bought in from Eastern Province as a concealment method to mislead Officers that they were carrying maize bran.
Both the alcohol and truck have been seized and will be forfeited to the State as provided for in the Customs and Excise Act of the Laws of Zambia.
We urge all importer and transporters to desist from facilitating their drivers into such habits because once goods are intercepted, there are far-reaching consequences not only to the owners of the products but the transporters involved.
Zambia Revenue Authority, therefore, would like to retaliate its commitment to fighting smuggling of all sorts and liberating Zambia from economic saboteurs engaging in illicit trade. The general public is encouraged to report to ZRA all suspicious trade practices in their areas to enable ZRA to create a level trading ground for all legitimate Traders.
Issued by:
Oliver Nzala
ZRA Corporate Communications Manager