Anti-smuggling team makes inroads
LEONARD NEILL
CONTRABAND CIGARETTES valued at R10million were confiscated by customs officials in Durban harbour last Thursday. The ‘bust’ was carried out by a select surveillance team which had kept a container under observation for a week.
“It’s only the tip of the iceberg,” says Deon Smith, anti-smuggling group manager stationed at Durban customs.
“More and more contraband cargo is being landed here these days, but our dedicated team has the matter well under control. The bulk is coming in the form of textiles and clothing, mainly from the Far East. This 40ft container load of cigarettes arrived from Singapore.”
Much of the confiscated goods are targeted by the group before arrival in Durban, says Smith. In most cases the containers are landed and then placed under strict surveillance until someone attempts to have them cleared.
“We are helped by tip-offs from various sources, and generally find that there is either no documentation available or when available, it is false. When no clearance is attempted after a short while, we open the containers and find the goods to be illegal.”
