Customs stemming the tide of an illicit economy

ONE MILLION cigarettes, seized in Upington, were among the goods valued at R890.6 million confiscated by Customs officials in the past three months.

The South African Revenue Service (Sars) yesterday released its latest Customs statistics that cover the period from July 1 to September 30 2018. The total value of all goods confiscated amounted to R890 641 942.

Some of the statistics include: narcotics – 152 busts valued at R38.7 million; cigarettes – 43 busts valued at R11 million, CITES (including endangered species such as abalone) – 10 busts valued at R198 355; currency – three busts valued at R18.7 million, viagra/viagra generics – 20 busts valued at R4.8 million; counterfeit clothing, footwear and other goods – 417 busts valued at R766 million; clothing and textiles (second hand and other infringements) – 118 busts valued at R1.2 million; and alcohol – 96 busts valued at R1.8 million.

Compared with the same period last year (July to September 2017), the number and value of busts increased to 2 499, with a total value of R890.6 million this year, compared to 1 776 busts valued at R754.9 million last year.

Spokesperson for Customs Investigations, Patrick Moeng, reaffirmed Sars’ continued commitment and collaboration with other government agencies and industry stakeholders in stemming the tide of an illicit economy, with a specific focus on the clothing and textile, fuel, tobacco and cigarettes sectors.

“To date, due to this collaboration, more than 30 entities suspected of trading in illegal tobacco and cigarettes, as well as clothing and textile, have been visited in the past two weeks across the country for contravening various tax laws.”

One of the high-profile busts which took place during this threemonth period included the one million cigarettes that were seized at Upington on 27 July.

Others were:

• Cocaine, with an estimated street value of R4 800 000, en route from South Africa to the UK, was seized at OR Tambo International Airport on July 31.

• Heroin, with an estimated street value of R4 400 000, en route from Mozambique to South Africa, was seized at the Lebombo Border Post on 20 August.

• Ephedrine, with an estimated street value of R4 500 000, en route from India via Dubai to South Africa, was seized at OR Tambo International Airport on August 24.

• Sexual Enhancement Tablets (Generic Viagra) valued at R300 000, en route from Dubai to South Africa, were seized at OR Tambo International Airport on July 25.

• Sexual Enhancement Tablets (Generic Viagra) valued at R2 000 000, en route from Ethiopia to South Africa, were seized at OR Tambo International Airport on August 6.

• Sexual Enhancement Tablets (Generic Viagra) valued at R2 480 000, en route from Hong Kong to South Africa, were seized at OR Tambo International Airport on August 31.

• Abalone, with an estimated value of R180 000, en route from South Africa to Hong Kong, was seized at OR Tambo International Airport on August 16.

• Currency (USD), equivalent to R9 194 234, en route from Mozambique via South Africa to Dubai, was seized at OR Tambo International Airport on July 30.

• Currency (USD), valued R9 460 500, en route from South Africa to Hong Kong, was seized at OR Tambo International Airport on September 11.