By Wisdom Mumera.
Chirundu, Zimbabwe. (News of The South) – Two suspected Zambian man have been arrested at Chirundu Border Post whilst attempting to smuggle 680 bags of cement into Zimbabwe from
Zambia.
The two culprits, aged 30 and 31, forged invoices to purport as if they had cotton cake which was destined for South Africa.
However when the Zambian truck was referred to a container depot for a physical examination by the ZRP Minerals and Border Control Unit it was revealed to be carrying cement worth $6800 instead of the
purported 3 400 metric tonnes of cotton cake oil.
The two are currently in police custody pending finalization of investigations. In a statement police have warned smugglers that the long of the law will catch them.
“The ZRP would like to warn all those who are involved in smuggling activities that the law will take its course”.
Transporters should desist from assisting individuals to smuggle goods into the country by evading checks at the point of entry or exit”, they said.
Smuggling has become rampant at the country’s major points of entry with allegations that some scams have ZIMRA officials involved.
The illegal activities at the borders have spawned off a whole business which involves the importation of vehicles through the check points but fraudulently as the company of law enforcement agency personnel are in cahoots with smugglers.
Zimbabwe has seen a previously frenetic importation of Asian second-hand vehicles many of which are being smuggled through the borders using illegal means.
This has had the resultant effect of the country losing millions in tax revenues.
Government efforts to fight the scourge have been hampered by a variety of factors such as low wages, poverty and poor working conditions all of which have supplemented the longevity of the illegal
activities.
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