CUSTOMS HAS begun to carry out surprise audits on importers who are suspected of under-declaring electronic goods, sources told FTW last week.
At least one raid has been carried out on a Johannesburg importer of high-value electronic goods. Customs officials demanded to see invoices for the importer's stock, and when these were not forthcoming, contacted the suppliers to ascertain how much had been bought.
Together with the British customs task team, South African customs is beginning to put into operation a plan to crack down on false declarations.
Smuggling accounts for up to 50% of electronic consumer goods available in South Africa, according to figures supplied by Business Against Crime.
The source said that further raids on suspected smugglers would be carried out on a regular basis. Companies were obliged by law to keep invoices for five years. Customs plans to check on whether invoices tally with sales volumes, he said. Meanwhile it was reported last week that two private investigators had been murdered over the past few months by electronics smugglers. The R4,5bn a year market was a lucrative target for smugglers.
