Watch: Tax Authority foils another evasion attempt, seizes 3,000 boxes of spirits in Matola

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Watch: Tax Authority foils another evasion attempt, seizes 3,000 boxes of spirits in Matola

11:38 CAT | 16 Jun 2017

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TVM

The Mozambican Tax Authority (TA) foiled another attempt to evade duty on Tuesday, this time on 3,000 boxes of spirits stored in a warehouse in Matola in Maputo province.

The confiscated product belongs to the same company from which more than 4,000 boxes of known-brand drinks were confiscated on 31 May for lack of proof of legality of the merchandise. Custom duties evaded on that occasion was estimated at 18 million meticais (US$295,000).

As in the first instance, the representatives of the firm now at loggerheads with the tax authorities have not been able to produce the documentation that should accompany the merchandise, whether it is in the warehouse, in circulation or on the commercial circuit.

The quantity and quality of the beverages involved suggestion there was an intention to take advantage of the process of sealing of products considered as stock, before the measure enters into force, at a cost to the Mozambican state of more than 25 million meticais.

Speaking to the press, the Directorate-General of Customs’ Elias Comar said that this was another blatant attempt to evade duties and that the tax authorities would not tolerate such a thing.

“For some time now, the AT has been carrying out closed inspections to assess the legality of local and imported products held in warehouses for subsequent sealing,” Comar said.

Comar said there were clearly laid out procedures and legal documents that the owners of the goods must present in this process, the lack of which activates legal mechanisms. He called on all economic stakeholders to carry out their activities within the laws in force, or the tax authorities would enforce observance.