The Zambia Revenue Authority has cracked another organized fuel smuggling syndicate through the Chirundu One Stop Boarder Post worth over 2.8 million Kwacha in unpaid duty and taxes.
In the latest scam, the importer falsely declared the consignment as Jet A1 fuel (which is duty free) when in fact it was petrol and diesel.
During intelligence led patrols, the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) Elite Anti-Smuggling Squad intercepted the first three trucks on the morning of 17th September 2017, as they were moving into Lusaka. After checking the documents presented by the drivers, the officers discovered that contrary to the declaration of Jet A1 fuel made at Chirundu, the trucks were in fact carrying petrol.
This led to a full investigation being commissioned and 10 other trucks with petrol and diesel were discovered to have been smuggled in a similar manner and no duties and taxes were paid.
Our investigations have so far reviewed that misclassification of Petrol as Jet A1 fuel was meant to facilitate smuggling of the consignment contrary to section 149 of the Customs and Excise Act CAP 322 of the laws of Zambia.
Documentary evidence from our counterparts on the Zimbabwean side, the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) confirms the nature of cargo as being petrol and not Jet A1 fuel as declared on the Zambian side.
It is important to note that ZRA now has a strong Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Zimbabwe Revenue (ZIMRA) Authority and other Revenue bodies in the region to help us curb all smuggling activities in the region.
Investigations have further revealed that import declarations were done by the Agent at Chirundu on behalf of Puma Energy Zambia Limited who were found to have fully paid for the respective entries. All the 13 entries currently confirmed by investigations were imported under Puma Energy PLC and fully paid for as Jet A1 supplies.
Statements so far given indicated that three trucks were originally supplied from the South Africa to a Mr Chombe Gondwe who has a contract of about 350,000 liters every month and investigations further revealed that 10 trucks were earlier supplied and received by Mr Chombwe Gondwe before the current 3 being held by ZRA in Lusaka.
“We can confirm that Mr Chombe Gondwe was traced and arrested. He has appeared in court for the offence of smuggling contrary to section 149 of the customs and excise Act Cap 322 of the laws of Zambia,” ZRA Spokesman Topsy Sikalinda said.
“This year in June, the government through ZRA sent an expert verification team to South Africa on a fact finding mission for importation of petroleum products. This was after concerns from the Energy Regulation Board (ERB) over low levels of fuel uplifts or stock movements at Tazama leading to over stocking of the commodity and affecting storage space,” he said.
“It is important to note that the verification mission established that some oil Marketing companies were using SADC Certificates of Origin in order to avoid paying Taxes. ZRA has since started the process of recovering the taxes for the last 5 years.”
In October 2017, another truck was intercepted by the ZRA Elite Anti-Smuggling Squad carrying petrol with falsified documents indicating that the shipment was in transit to the DRC when in fact not. This truck is also currently held by ZRA.
The current status is that the 3 trucks are currently in detention, Puma Energy have denied ownership of the products despite being cleared and paid for by the company at the time of entry.
“As the Zambia Revenue Authority, We want to make a passionate appeal to all Zambians that we can make our country a better place if you help us with information on all smuggling and tax invasion activities that are happening in our organizations and communities,” said Mr. Sikalinda.
Acts like these have a potential to destroy the economy, distort the national fuel statistics hence, affecting planning and even grounding the entire economy because this create lapses in the planning and smooth restocking process. We want to make it clear that ZRA will not tolerate any form of smuggling or Tax evasion by any individual or company.”
this is uncalled for but then again when tax is paid the money will just facilitate jonathan and kaizer,s extravagant flying popping bottles of something our throats are unfamiliar to,real transparency will come in when top leardership values hardwork and has disdain for corruption,nepotism,favouritism and people with proper qualifications are put in decision making positions otherwise it will always be same ol song
Useless comment
Puma energy is owned by Indians, this trend has been happening for far too long and this is when you have woken up? To me it seems someone did not get his cut hence disclosing all this infor. How come on the Zimbabwean side it was declared as diesel and petrol while on the Zambian side as JET fuel. Did they use the same documents or what? ZRA workers are the worst culprits aiding these criminals with these acts. Lungu work up!
Jet Fuel in Zim is not duty free as it is in Zambia, in fact its got a higher rate than petrol/diesel
Indians called Chombe Gondwe… Lol.
Indeed this worrying to say the least. Unless all we Zambians get involved to rid off such scams and many more in our midst, we stand to lose out on our current and global belief that we’re a stable and a politically stable nation.
My advice to us all in diaspora is, let’s go back home to take charge and send those Asian nationals back to their countries of origin. Unless we do this and quickly, we shall lose out greatly
Personnel at ZRA are very corrupt. How can you pass something without a physical check? At Kitwe offices the computerized queuing system. This only worked for a few weeks and we’re back to “normal ” where people just go to the counter without queuing. I enquired and discovered that these chaps pay money to officers for an “appointment “. They’re not following the new system because the computer will not take you to the guy that you bribed.
Ndanje until we stop these practices we cannot progress. Lets pat decent wages, lets pay decemt wages on time so that pipo dont have to live on kongole then the need to accept btibes for just doing your job will diminish.
Ndanje it is rampant in all departments. Ypur observations are spot on
These guys get a lot of money but because of their insatiable craving for luxury they use every way possible for that extra cash. They drink from day one to the last day of the month. Just look at the mansions they’re putting up….so expensive and sophisticated it’s hard to convince a foreign visitor that Zambia is the 3rd hungriest nation in Africa.
When people are saying everything is rotten to the core…you think it’s joke!
If there is one institution which is corrupt in zambia is ZRA. Whoever they say is caught is the one who failed to pay them money. All boarder posts in zambia u can pass through provided u have money.
The only way to stamp out corruption is to remove all those called ” clearing agents “. Those agents are the one identity people with goods and negotiate the amount to be paid. People should start paying money in offices not to the agents. It’s a terrible situation in zambia.
Welcome to the real world.someone never got the cut here.
Yes one world one Zambia,it’s not about Fuel only it’s everything and every one involved. Its start from government tenders with a lot of government employees in such scams.
The show, he after party. The hotel …