By SAM PHIRI –
ZAMBIA Revenue Authority (ZRA) has intercepted 22 trucks laden with Mukula tree logs worth K6.6 million in an extraordinary operation that involved three countries.
ZRA corporate communications manager Topsy Sikalinda said yesterday in Lusaka that the illegal contraband was first detected and detained for investigations at Chirundu border post.
Mr Sikalinda, however, said eight trucks initially managed to escape before the conclusion of investigations but were tracked down with help from the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) and South African Revenue Services (SARS).
He said five were intercepted en rout to Zimbabwe while three on South Africa’s Beit Bridge.
“We wish to thank the security wings, ZIMRA, SARS for rendering their service to the ZRA elite anti-smuggling squad in this operation, and we would like to warn that as an Authority we will not condone any kind of smuggling,” he said.
Mr Sikalinda said the Authority was on red alert of any such kind of smuggling involving Government trophies.
The Authority has since forfeited the trucks to the State with immediate effect and that ZRA Commissioner General Kingsly Chanda will soon donate the Mukula consignment to the State through ZAFICO.
