BEITBRIDGE: Alert Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) officials recently seized over a tonne of copper at Beitbridge Border Post as the Authority intensifies its efforts to thwart smuggling and underground activities. In the first incident, a suspiciously loaded truck crossing the border into South Africa was intercepted by ZIMRA officials while in the process of smuggling 226 kilogrammes of scrap copper. The copper was concealed in a tyre disguised as a spare wheel. Most of the copper was identified as having been vandalized from Tel-One infrastructure and was valued at over ZAR13,560.
Upon arrest, the driver’s explanation was that he had offered transport to the owner of the tyres, who was taking them to South Africa for repair. Both the driver and the passenger were taken into Police custody.
In another related case, a second truck was intercepted at the border post while trying to smuggle 610 kilogrammes of stolen copper cables. The cables were hidden in tyres and they were discovered after the scanner exposed extra-ordinarily heavy spare wheels. Upon making physical checks, ZIMRA officials discovered that the two ‘spare wheels’ contained copper worth about ZAR36,600.
The cables were identified as having been vandalized from the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) infrastructure. The driver of the truck and his younger brother were both arrested and are assisting Police with investigations.
A third truck was also intercepted within hours of discovering the 610 kilogrammes of copper. The scanner, which is now notoriously referred to as “Tsikamutanda” (witch hunter) for its unsurpassed prowess to discover concealed cargo, unearthed copper contraband to the tune of 337 kilogrammes and valued at over ZAR20,226. The copper was hidden in an unusually folded tent.
The three trucks and copper were seized in accordance with provisions of the Customs and Excise Act while the drivers and their accomplices are still assisting Police with investigations.
ZIMRA’s Director for Legal and Corporate Services, Ms Florence Jambwa, confirmed the three incidents and attributed the interceptions to the Authority’s tenacious fight against smuggling and corruption.
“The installation of scanners at ports of entry and exit as well as our robust risk profiling strategy have enhanced ZIMRA’s capacity to verify declarations made by importers and exporters more swiftly and accurately,’ she said.
Ms Jambwa encouraged members of the public to desist from smuggling and corruption, which she blamed for destroying the economy.
“We urge our valued clients to properly declare and account for their goods on importation or exportation,” she added.
ZIMRA has employed several techniques to curb smuggling of goods into or out of Zimbabwe. Some of the mechanisms include use of scanners, border patrols in conjunction with law enforcement agencies, acting on tip-offs and physical examinations. The Authority will soon be launching a Canine Unit which is expected to play an important role in complementing anti-smuggling strategies in line with ZIMRA’s mandate to protect civil society from harmful substances; as well as to collect, account for and safeguard revenue.
THE 226KG SPARE WHEEL? ZIMRA officials thwart bid to smuggle copper cables hidden in a ‘spare wheel’