ZRA captures truck with smuggled goods

The Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) has intercepted and seized a truck of smuggled goods worth K807, 000 in Livingstone.

ZRA seized the truck carrying assorted groceries which included diapers, coffee, butter and cooking oil after discovering that the consignment was falsely declared as infant milk.

In a press release made available to ZANIS in Livingstone today, ZRA Commissioner Customs Sydney Chibbabbuka said the truck was seized during a verification exercise after officers became suspicious of the declaration made by the importer.

“After collecting documents from Zimbabwe Revenue Authority, the alert officers confirmed that the consignment was assorted groceries and not Lactogen milk as declared to ZRA,” he said.

Mr. Chibbabbuka stated that, the truck and goods were intercepted as it was an attempted smuggling case under section 141 and section 149 of the Customs and Excise Act Cap 322 of the Laws of Zambia.

He said the importer who was identified as a frequent smuggler, had in the past made several importations that were falsely declared as infant milk to avoid physical inspections and payment of duties.

“Infant milk is zero rated and does not attract any taxes. It is regrettable to note that the importer chose to misclassify the assorted groceries as baby milk,” he said.

Mr. Chibbabbuka further said other than seizure of the goods and truck which will be forfeited to the State, the license of the Customs Clearing Agent had with immediate effect been suspended due to the gravity of the offence.

And ZRA has warned traders that are in the habit of smuggling that they risked losing both their goods and vehicles.

The Authority said that it will remain alert to the various forms of smuggling used by unscrupulous importers in order to protect revenue and promote fair competition among traders.