MRA seizes 527 bales of smuggled sugar  

The Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) following a tip from the public, intercepted smuggled bales of sugar concealed in five truckloads of salt that were being imported into the country through Mwanza Border on Monday February 11.

Concealed sugar seized from the trucks in Mwanza

In the operation, MRA seized a total of 527 bales of smuggled sugar from four different individuals.179 bales belonged to a Mrs Bwanali, 99 bales to Martin Chibale, 119 bales to Mercy Banda Bauleni and 130 bales to an individual so far only identified as Thoko.

Importation of sugar requires an Import Licence issued by the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

MRA’s Head of Corporate Affairs Steven Kapoloma said smuggling is a serious offence under the Customs and Excise Act, and goods imported without licence are liable to forfeiture.

“The smuggled sugar and the conveyances have been seized and the smugglers and the owners of the conveyances will be dealt with in accordance with the Customs and Excise law.

“The Malawi Revenue Authority continues to step up its law enforcement efforts by actively detecting contraband and combatting smuggling,” he said.

Besides depriving the government of revenue for public expenditure, smuggling distorts market prices thereby depriving traders of fair competition which might lead to the collapse of local industries.

Members of the general public are encouraged to work together with Malawi Revenue Authority to report all illegal importations of sugar and any other products into the country.

The reports can be made through the following MRA’s Deloitte Tip Offs Anonymous Service toll free numbers; 847 for Airtel, TNM and ACCESS subscribers and 80000847 for MTL. Rewards are given to anyone who provides credible information on acts of smuggling.

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Cyrus
Cyrus
5 years ago

‘Illegal’ sugar.. Maybe there wouldn’t be a need to smuggle sugar if our spineless government didn’t allow Illovo Sugar to monopolise the market and extort poor and working class Malawians ridiculous prices for our local crop. Illovo is one of the biggest multi-nationals in Malawi that make obscene profits and externalise massive amounts of forex with their ‘transfer pricing’ and ‘management charges’. But because they supposedly help the Malawian farmers and economy, they are protected by our politicians and business people. Definitely they are significant contributors to our national economy, but they also make outsize profits on the back of… Read more »

mtete
mtete
5 years ago

We know you are an Asian of Malawi origin and related to Sameer Karim and Batatawala Karim. Idi Amin was correct about your type.

Mphwache
Mphwache
5 years ago

Iwo sugar amayesa mchere heti? Kwawo ndi kuti komwe amathira sugar mu ndiwo. Asa.

John maganga
John maganga
5 years ago

Were is the story of Mapeto goods seized textiles he declared yarn

Kalulu Wadwala
Kalulu Wadwala
5 years ago

All Indians are smugglers but you seize katundu wa a Malawi anzanu and go public. Sad. These are poor malawians trying to make a living. Don’t give us a picture that you are working when we know that you know who the big smugglers are. Shame MRA

Prophet Mboro
5 years ago

Kapoloma musawonjeza ,iyo ndi ntchito! Tizapezana

Tchuma
Tchuma
5 years ago

Anthu akuda nde busy now koma MA Burundi ndi amwenye akupanga the same thing kumawang’ana… Stupid Malawians

Vichi ndi chani?
Vichi ndi chani?
5 years ago

This is our sugar exported at a very low price to South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe, they repack and resale at an incredibly low price. Timalima tokha koma kumatipwetekanso ndi mitengo.

Gongoni Wakuda
Gongoni Wakuda
5 years ago

These were importing into Malawi and not exporting from Malawi

mtete
mtete
5 years ago

Asiyeni anthu. They are just trying to make ends meet. Talking about evading tax, why don’t you go for Mulakhos and DPP big wigs who deliberately don’t know what the words MRA and TAX mean.

Cashgate1
Cashgate1
5 years ago
Reply to  mtete

Selective Justice. Many DPP cadres evade huge taxes, big taxes. The price we pay for mediocrity.

Biti John
Biti John
5 years ago
Reply to  mtete

Kupanda nzeru uku!
I sound a criminal as well and no wonder u are encouraging people to break the law

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