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Police are on the hunt for a truck driver who fled the scene during a routine Sars inspection of his truck.
The man’s suspicious behaviour can be attributed to the fact that he was ferrying nefarious cargo (Mandrax substances declared as hair extensions) from Mozambique into South Africa.
“Customs Inspectors from Lebombo Customs Detector Dog Unit were conducting random searches of cargo at the imports channel at Lebombo Border Post when they stopped a yellow truck with two trailers en route to South Africa,” said Sars in a statement.
“The officers engaged the driver, a Zimbabwean citizen, to perform a manual inspection to verify the declared goods, which were declared as hair extensions.”
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When the customs officer requested the declaration documents from the driver, the seal numbers were verified and found to be correct.
The inspector then continued with his search of the rest of the vehicle.
During the inspections, the customs officer came aross a toolbox that was left open. Inside, nine bags weighing 22kg of an unknown powder was found.
“The powder was tested on-site by using the generic and cocaine test kit and found to be positive as a narcotics substance,” said Sars.
The goods and the vehicle have been handed over to the South African Police Service (Saps) for further investigation.
The Saps Forensic Laboratory later confirmed that the substance was n-acetylanthranilic acid, which is the precursor in the synthesis of Methaqualone (Mandrax) manufacturing.
The estimated value of the substance is approximately R5 million, but once manufactured the substance’s value would escalate.
“The truck driver fled the scene during the inspection and the substance and the vehicle were handed over to the Saps for further investigation.
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The vehicle was detained in the Sars State Warehouse.”
Meanwhile, in a separate incident at the Skilpadshek border post bordering Botswana, a Sars customs officer randomly intercepted a South African registered truck carrying 1433 master cases of undeclared, suspected illicit Remington Gold cigarettes.
The truck’s contents were declared as wastepaper and carried a value of R48 500.
“During the inspection, the customs officer found that the wastepaper was used to cover the master cases of cigarettes.
The value of these cigarettes is estimated at R21 million.”
That truck driver also fled the scene while pretending to open the other side of the truck and fled the inspection area.
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The truck and master cases of cigarettes were detained at Skilpadshek Border Post.
A criminal case against the driver, clearing agent and transport company is underway.
Sars Commissioner Edward Kieswetter praised the customs officers and the DDU for their vigilance in preventing illicit cigarettes from entering the country.
“The legal tobacco and cigarette industry in the country needs to be supported and Sars has shown once again that it is playing its part. Similarly, the trade in narcotics needs to be smashed.
These drugs hurt all users, which unfortunately includes young persons who have the potential to contribute significantly to the prosperity of our country,” he concluded.
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