Man nabbed at OR Tambo with illegal cash

South Africa’s revenue service said yesterday a currency bust at OR Tambo International Airport was the latest in a drive which has netted its customs division illicit or illegal goods valued at close to R400 million since the start of the year.

In the latest bust, a South African male about to depart for Dubai was intercepted and found with US currency valued at R4 595 344 which he failed to declare. The currency was confiscated and the passenger arrested for smuggling.

The South African Revenue Service (Sars) said it had, since January 1, also confiscated narcotics valued at nearly R103 million through 122 busts, as well as cigarettes worth more than R593 000 and items cited under endangered species, including rhino horns and abalone valued at more than R13 million.

Other items included Viagra, counterfeit clothing, footwear and alcohol.

Sars said a special high-visibility joint operation in Cape Town earlier this month led by its customs officials and involving various government agencies, resulted in 46 busts of goods worth over R33 million.

“The biggest bust of the oper- ation was the discovery of uncut crystal methamphetamine (tik) with an estimate value of R30 million stashed in fridges on a truck which arrived in Cape Town from Johannesburg,” it said.

In the same truck, a large amount of suspected counterfeit clothing was also discovered, leading to the arrest of the truck driver.

The operation also led to the detection of 177 cases of noncompliance, including possible undervaluation, nondeclaration of goods, non-permits for import purposes, illegal transporting of abalone and detention of vehicles. – ANA

Sars has confiscated narcotics valued at nearly R103 million through 122 busts, as well as cigarettes worth more than R593 000 and items cited under endangered species, including rhino horns and abalone