The Judicial Court of Maputo City ordered the release, on Friday (13), of eight Mozambican Customs agents allegedly involved in a corruption scheme (tax fraud) of about 18.6 million meticais.

A national portal writes that the accused, whose identities remain secret, participated in the embezzlement of that amount at the Maputo International Maritime Terminal. The case was triggered in January 2022.

The source says that the Attorney General's Office (PGR) - which has opened a criminal case - learned of the case through "a complaint of the issuance of an exemption from customs duties valued at $18.6 million," issued by the Directorate General of Customs.

At the time, the Public Prosecutor's Office explained that Customs officials "used a citizen (assistant customs broker) to request exemption from customs duties as if for importation of used clothing and capulanas for donation to people in need and victims of terrorism [in Cabo Delgado]."

The source says that senior Mozambican customs officials, customs brokers, and businessmen participated in this scheme, importing various goods and merchandise without paying the proper charges.

Following the arrests, several properties, luxury vehicles and valuables were also seized.

"Public Prosecutor's Office has not brought any charges against the defendants, letting the periods of pre-trial detention expire" reads the portal.