Chinese man fined K120, 000 over gold
A CHINESE national who attempted to smuggle sample base metals with traces of gold weighing 1.5 ilo ra e ha een fined by the Ndola Subordinate Court.
Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) corporate communications manager, Topsy Sikalinda said 55-year-old Zhao Liantun attempted to smuggle out of Zambia, samples of precious metals at Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe International Airport on February 2, this year.
Mr Zhao pleaded guilty to the charge of smuggling.
Mr Sikalinda said in a statement that this was contrary to Section 149 (a) of the Customs and Excise Act, Cap 322 of the Laws of Zambia.
“Zhao Liantun was intercepted when ustoms officers working with other security wings at the airport identified suspicious objects upon scanning his luggage.
“ his prompted the officers to conduct a physical search in accordance with the law. It was discovered that there was gold concealed in the suitcase as medicine, tea-bags and a comb weighing 1,500 grams,” he said.
e explained that the officers further requested for customs declaration documents from the passenger but the accused failed to produce any mineral export permits.
Mr Sikalinda said failure to produce any mineral export permit contravened Section 48 of the Customs and Excise Act, of the Laws of Zambia.
“For us, this conviction sends a strong message to all perpetrators of smuggling and tax evasion because it is the responsibility of all citizens and other nationals to ensure that they follow the laid down procedures for imports and exports,” he said.
Mr Sikalinda made it clear that ZRA would not tolerate any form of smuggling or tax evasion by any individual or company.
He implored the public to ensure that they followed the right channels and procedures for all exports of minerals and precious stones.