Customs officials confiscate nearly R2 billion illegal goods
SARS released its latest statistics of Customs busts which show that goods valued at R1 732 339 421 have been confiscated in the first half of this year.
The South African Revenue Service (SARS) says it will come up with new strategies to curb illicit inroad trade. This as the Revenue Service has revealed that over a billion Rands worth of illegal goods had been confiscated in the country’s various ports of entry.
SARS released its latest statistics of Customs busts for the period 1 January 2018 until 30 June 2018. The statistics show that the total value of confiscated goods is R1 732 339 421.
The service’s acting chief officer in customs and excise, Beyers Theron, said he believed there was more that Customs and SARS could do to make inroads into the illicit economy.
“We need to start looking at trends and patterns and becoming more strategic in the way we are dealing with some of these risks,” he said.
Included in the illicit items confiscated were narcotics valued at R171 177 653, cigarettes at R33 345 064, endangered species such as abalone valued at R13 996 635 and currencies valued at R52 903 426.
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“Some of the high-profile busts which took place during the first six months of this year include the abalone with an estimated value of R2 370 000, en route from South Africa to Sri Lanka via Dubai, seized at Durban Harbour on 21 February and currency (ZAR & USD) valued R6 992 569, en route from South Africa to Mauritius, seized at OR Tambo International Airport on 4 May,” said SARS in a statement.
Sexual Enhancement Tablets (Generic Viagra) valued at R30 000 000, en route from India to South Africa, were also seized at OR Tambo International Airport in May.
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