Online Reporter
Lovemore Kadzura
Weekender Reporter
A TRUCK driver who smuggled beer worth thousands of dollars from Mozambique was last week convicted of the offence, and had his consignment seized by the authorities.
Ronald Mavi (28) of Chivhu Township, and is employed by Suboor Transport, pleaded guilty to contravening Section 182(1) of the Customs and Excise Act, Chapter 23:04, when he smuggled several cases of high-end clear beer into the country without declaration, and prejudiced the State US$6 743,04 in unpaid tax.
Mavi pleaded guilty when he appeared before Mutare provincial magistrate, Ms Annie Ndiraya, who convicted him of the offence, and sentenced him to pay a fine of US$600 by May 4 or six-months imprisonment.
An additional six months were set aside on condition of good behaviour for the next five years.
Prosecutor, Mr Chris Munyuku said detectives on an anti-smuggling operation were tipped off that Mavi had smuggled beer into the country.
They made a follow-up and discovered that he only had a bill of entry for sodium cyanide, and the alcohol was not declared.
“On March 24, police detectives were on anti-smuggling duties when they received information from an informer that the accused person had smuggled various liquor from Mozambique into Zimbabwe using the haulage truck he was driving.
“On the same day at around 8pm, the detectives intercepted the haulage truck near Energy Park Service Station along Park Road. The detectives identified themselves to the accused by producing their police identity cards. They requested for a Bill of Entry form for the consignment and Mavi produced a Bill of Entry form indicating that the haulage truck was carrying sodium cyanide only,” said Mr Munyuku.
The truck was escorted to ZIMRA for verification of its contents where it was established that an additional consignment was also in the truck which was not declared at the customs office leading to the arrest of the accused.
A physical examination of the consignment was conducted by customs officials, and it was discovered that the haulage truck was also carrying an additional consignment of 144 case of Corona beer, 121 cases of Brutal Fruit beer, five cases of Stella Artois beer, three cases of Heineken beer, three cases of Eixx beer and two cases of Cerveja beer which was not declared at customs office.
“The haulage truck and beer were seized by ZIMRA, Mutare under Notice of seizure. The accused person prejudiced the State of US$6 743,04 in the form of unpaid duty,” said Mr Munyuku.
