On Tuesday,the country’s revenue collection agency, said that, authorities in Zambia intercepted 10 trucks laden with copper ore which was supposed to have been smuggled into the country without paying any taxes.
As the trucks attempted to enter Zambia from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) where the copper was smuggled they were intercepted at the border entry.
Topsy Sikalinda, the Corporate Communications Manager of Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA), while verifying their documents said the smugglers, who were foreigners, presented fake custom documents at the border, and immediately alerted officers and impounded their trucks.
Sikalinda said, during the interception, the officers were threatened with guns, but since the operation was jointly conducted with other security agencies, the trucks were intercepted and issued with seizure notices.
He said the country was losing millions of money monthly due to a drastic reduction in the importation of copper ores by importers because smugglers were now supplying them with the commodity.
He, however, said that security had been tightened at all border entries with the DRC as part of efforts to curb smuggling.
NAN
