Revenue authority recovers $72,420 of evaded tax on smuggled snails

The Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) has recovered US$72,420 worth of taxes and duty from the 3621 kilogrammes (Kg) of smuggled snails.

This followed the Lusaka Economics and Financial Crimes Court conviction of three taxpayers for the offense of smuggling contrary to the Customs and Excise Act.

Brief facts of the case are that Ronata Logistics Limited and Sawa Trading and General Dealers/Simasiku Mundia on unknown dates but between October 11, 2023 and February 3, 2024 in Lusaka, jointly and whilst acting together with other unknown persons, smuggled into Zambia 3621 Kg of Abalone-a highly prized dish on seafood menus, thereby defrauding Government of revenue valued at US$72,420 in taxes and duty.

This is contained in a statement issued by the ZRA Corporate Communications Manager, Oliver Nzala, in a statement issued on Wednesday in Lusaka.

Nzala explained that when the case came up on January 15, 2025, the convicts informed the Court that they were evoking the provisions of the Plea Negotiations and Agreements Act number 20 of 2010.

“The Authority did not object. The convicts have since paid the authority the evaded taxes and duties in a total sum of K2, 257,574.57 and the cost of prosecution amounting to K100, 000. They also pledged to register on the Smart – Invoice platform with the authority.

“The Court further convicted Ronata Logistics Limited and Sawa Trading and General Dealers/Simasiku Mundia on counts of smuggling and sentenced it to a fine of K 10,000. The matter was before Honourable Anna Holland,” he said.

Nzala warned that the authority had also intensified its monitoring mechanisms in order to detect tax fraud and smuggling.

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