Last Monday (08), the Mozambican Tax Authority (AT) seized an ore transport truck on the National Road (N4) containing 1,181 cases of smuggled alcoholic beverages.

A note from the AT states that the seizure of this merchandise, valued at more than one million meticais, comes days after the institution's operational lines thwarted three trucks of similar characteristics on the same route, carrying considerable quantities of smuggled alcoholic drinks and cigarettes.

"The seizure of this merchandise raises the level of concern of the customs authorities regarding the tendency of some drivers to use vehicles intended for the transportation of minerals to smuggle goods across national borders without observing the legal precepts," reads the document released yesterday, Wednesday (10).

In the meantime, the institution guarantees that it will continue to work hard to dismantle smuggling attempts and other forms of sophisticated customs and tax crime, as a way of protecting the national economy, pointing out that, from January 1 to June this year, the institution seized 513 items of various goods, including 302 for smuggling, 96 for illegal dumping and 115 for trespassing.

According to the institution, the goods in question are valued at just over 318 million meticais and the duties and other taxes are valued at over 110 million meticais.

"From the list of seizures in the period in question, in addition to alcoholic beverages, the highlight goes to three containers containing 5,250 boxes of water pipe tobacco, valued at 44,389,678.99 meticais, with duties and other customs charges amounting to 71,077,045.91 meticais. The causes of these seizures are smuggling and embezzlement," the statement said.

However, the AT points out that compared to the same period last year, there was a decrease in the number of seizures of 142 cases, which, in percentage terms, is equivalent to 21.68%.

"However, in terms of the amounts collected, the value grew by 19,596,928.27 meticais, which corresponds to 40.04%. This is mainly due to the reinforcement of inspections near the border lines," he explains.

(Photo DR)