ZRA seizes trucks, 320 drums of ethanol from importers attempting to evade K3.38 million tax

Two trucks attempting to smuggle 320 drums of ethanol into Zambia through the Kazungula One Stop Border Post, with taxes worth K3.38 million, have been intercepted and seized by the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA), according to its Corporate Communications Manager, Oliver Nzala. This was contained in a statement issued on Wednesday.

Nzala explained that the seizure of the trucks came after the ZRA Mobile Enforcement Unit received intelligence information that certain importers of ethanol had changed the description of goods on the commercial documents from ethanol to methylene chloride to smuggle the consignments through misclassification.

“One of the trucks had the Ethanol classified as Methylene Chloride and the invoice value was altered from ZAR 1,052,950 to ZAR 210,000, while the ethanol carried on the other truck was not declared after realising that ZRA officers were vigilant and decided to apply for re-exportation.

“In the first case, the Ethanol was correctly declared on the Botswana side but attempted to smuggle it into Zambia through misclassification as methylene chloride and gross undervaluation. The consignments belong to different importers,” he said.

Nzala said the Ethanol and trucks have been seized and would be forfeited to the state as provided for in the Customs and Excise Act of the Laws of Zambia.

He, therefore, urged all importers and transporters to desist from facilitating their drivers into such habits warning that once goods are intercepted, there are far-reaching consequences not only to the owners of the products but the transporters involved.

“For transporters, when you notice that what you are carrying is different from what has been declared, please report to the ZRA in order to avoid your trucks being seized.

“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,” Nzala said.

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