Mozambique: 2 Million meticais worth of contraband beverages seized by tax authority

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Mozambique: 2 Million meticais worth of contraband beverages seized by tax authority

11:47 CAT | 18 Apr 2024

File photo: O Pais

The tax authority intercepted around 3,000 cases of contraband alcoholic beverages valued at two million meticais, originating from neighboring South Africa.

These contraband alcoholic beverages, valued at over two million meticais, were seized by customs authorities inside a warehouse in Matola.

The beneficiaries of these illegal activities, according to national customs authorities, are small stalls and grocery stores in the city and province of Maputo, a business that would defraud the state of 1.5 million meticais in customs duties.

“The group incorporates various schemes to disguise goods with the intent of smuggling, and besides these indicators, the beverage does not have a seal, violating ministerial decree 64/2021, which requires all goods destined for Mozambique to be sealed,” said Fernando Tinga, spokesperson for the Mozambique Tax Authority.

Given this, the goods will be forwarded to customs warehouses for subsequent steps, which may involve the payment of fines. “Initially, there will be no restriction of the customs process, and it will depend on the court what measures will be applied, but everything indicates that fines will be paid,” he explained.

The merchandise belongs to a group of women, composed of eight individuals who claim to work in connection with a South African network. Although they claim it is their first time, they admit the illegality of the product. Nevertheless, the women claim ownership of the product intercepted by authorities inside a warehouse located in the municipality of Matola.

“We know that we are facing an illegality because we did not pay customs duties, but the product is ours because we bought it with our money and can prove it with receipts,” said one of the members in what she prefers to call a venting message.

According to tax authority data, the country loses over 61 million meticais due to the smuggling of various products, with alcoholic beverages being a highlight.

Source: O Pais