ZRA confiscate smuggled meat products
By Staff Reporter
The Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) has unearthed another transit fraud smuggling case worth over K408,000.
ZRA Corporate communications manager Topsy Sikalinda disclosed in a statement that the transit fraud was contrary to the Customs and Excise Act 322 of the Laws of Zambia.
Facts of the matter are that meat products purported to be transiting to the Democratic Republic of Congo where in fact not and were being offloaded at a farm named Ilobezi Zambia Limited located between Mazabuka and Monze.
Sikalinda explained that at Kazungula border post, the customs officers sealed the truck with official seals as per requirement for all transit goods but the importer opened the truck by unscrewing the door panels without tempering with the seals and offloaded 1, 382 boxes and only left 230 boxes on the truck.
He said the authority has since issued seizure notices for both the meat and the truck and has with immediate effect suspended the clearing license for Federal Cargo Limited who is the clearing agent and investigations continue in the matter.
Sikalinda said ZRA Commissioner General Kingsley Chanda invoked the provisions of the Customs and Excise Act cap 322 which empower him to dispose the perishable goods and donated them to security wings and hospitals.
He said the Zambia Army has since received 350 boxes of meat, Zambia Airforce will get 250 boxes, Zambia National Service 250 boxes, Zambia Correctional Service 250 boxes while the University Teaching Hospital will get 200 and the Levy Mwanawasa Teaching Hospital 200 boxes.
Sikalinda has warned that ZRA would not spare any smuggler.
