• Hamza Abrahman Msengi helped the smuggling of a consignment of 20 cartons of used hand bags and 300 cartons of used clothing.
• The Court sentenced the convict to a fine of K10, 000 to be paid straightaway in default 9 months imprisonment.
• Further, the court ordered that the evaded taxes in the sum of K304, 223 be paid to Zambia Revenue Authority.

Ndola Subordinate Court has fined a 26 year old Tanzanian truck driver K10, 000 to be paid straightaway or in default 9 months imprisonment for smuggling second hand clothes and handbags into Zambia.
Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) Corporate Communications Manager Oliver Nzala reveals that the court further ordered that the evaded taxes in the sum of K304, 223 be paid to the Authority.
Mr. Nzala said facts of the case are that Hamza Abrahman Msengi, on dates unknown but between 20th November 2022 and 31st December 2022 in Ndola, jointly and whilst acting together with others unknown, helped the smuggling of a consignment of 20 cartons of used hand bags and 300 cartons of used clothing into Zambia thereby defrauding Government of revenue amounting to K304, 223 in taxes.
He said upon reaching Nakonde Border, the convict declared that the said consignment was in transit through Zambia to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) via the Sakania Border.
“Seals for the transit goods were place on the said truck by Zambia Revenue Authority and allowed to proceed. However, he removed the seals in Ndola and trans-shipped the consignment onto another unknown truck.”
“After trans-shipping the consignment, the accused affixed fake seals on an empty container and proceeded to Sakania Border in order to acquit the transit bond in pretext that the truck was laden with the consignment which was declared at the border. Alert ZRA Customs officers conducted a physical inspection of the truck and discovered that it was not carrying any goods as the goods had been trans-shipped onto another truck in Ndola,” Mr. Nzala explained.
Mr. Nzala stated that when the convict appeared before Magistrate Jennipher Bwalya, he pleaded guilty to one count of aiding at smuggling contrary to section 149 (b) and section 183(1) as read together with section 155 of the Customs and Excise Act Cap 322 of the Laws of Zambia.
“The Zambia Revenue Authority strives to detect and disrupt tax evasion schemes and prosecute criminals who engage in smuggling of goods through our borders to ensure that all individuals pay their fair share of customs duty and the right amount of taxes are paid to the government,” he said.