An intelligence-driven operation between enforcement teams within SARS and the South African Police Service (SAPS) took place on 25 October 2022 relating to the prevention and detection of cross-border smuggling and Customs and Excise non-compliance in the cigarette and tobacco industry.
SARS Enforcement Teams deployed to the East Rand in Gauteng and supported by the SAPS found a truck offloading raw tobacco, allegedly imported from Zimbabwe, at a warehouse. The team also found a substantial number of boxes with raw tobacco, which had been previously delivered to the warehouse.
It was further established that the tobacco, which was destined for a Bonded Warehouse, had been illegally diverted to an unregistered warehouse. This is in contravention of the Customs and Excise Act, 1964.
The Joint Enforcement Teams conducted a full inspection, and the following goods were detained for further investigation:
- 472 boxes of raw tobacco with a Customs value of R10,919,000 (Including duties and Value-Added Tax (VAT); and
Truck transporting the raw tobacco boxes to the value of R2,500,000.