The Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) has unearthed a transit fraud scheme involving smuggled cases of meat worth K408,000.
ZRA Communications Manager, Topsy Sikalinda said the meat products purported to be transiting for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) were actually being offloaded at a farm named Ilobezi Zambia Limited located between Mazabuka and Monze.
Mr. Sikalinda explained that at Kazungula Boarder post, the customs officers sealed the truck with official seals as per requirement for all transit goods but the importer opened the truck using supplicated means 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 the clearing agent, Federal Cargo Limited, as investigations continue in the matter.
“The goods are perishable by nature and ZRA Commissioner General Kinsley Chanda has decided to invoke the provisions of the customs and excise Act cap 322 which empowers him to dispose all perishable goods,” said Mr. Sikalinda.
He added that they have resoluted to donate the goods to the security wings; Zambia Army will get 350 boxes, Zambia Airforce will get 250 boxes, Zambia National Service will get 250 boxes and Zambia Correctional Services will get 250 boxes.
Mr. Sikalinda said 200 boxes have been donated to the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) and 82 boxes will go to Levy Mwanawasa Hospital.