THE Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) has secured the conviction of Avocado Mining Limited for attempted smuggling and seized two Toyota Land Cruisers over customs misclassification. This is according to a statement issued Oliver Nzala, ZRA Manager for Corporate Communications. ZRA said the cases underscore its commitment to protecting public revenue and ensuring fair competition for compliant

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THE Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) has secured the conviction of Avocado Mining Limited for attempted smuggling and seized two Toyota Land Cruisers over customs misclassification.

This is according to a statement issued Oliver Nzala, ZRA Manager for Corporate Communications.

ZRA said the cases underscore its commitment to protecting public revenue and ensuring fair competition for compliant businesses.

On Sept. 22, Avocado Mining Limited, based in Kalulushi, pleaded guilty to 10 counts of attempted smuggling before the Economic and Financial Crimes Court Division of the Kitwe Subordinate Court.

The court heard that in July 2025, the company attempted to export 13 consignments of copper concentrates, valued for duty purposes at over K23.9 million, falsely declared as Portland cement on 13 bills of entry. The export duty involved amounted to K4 million.

The company was convicted under section 149(a) read together with section 155 of the Customs and Excise Act and fined K100,000, payable by Sept. 30.

ZRA said the company has also paid K5.4 million in assessed duty and penalties and reimbursed the state K1.5 million in prosecution expenses, separate from the court fine.

In a separate enforcement operation, ZRA officers intercepted a truck carrying two Toyota Land Cruisers in a 40-foot container at the Kafue checkpoint on Sept. 18. The consignment had entered Zambia through the Chirundu One Stop Border Post.

Physical inspection at the ZRA Makeni Yard established that the vehicles were brand-new, despite being more than two years old by year of manufacture, and had been incorrectly classified in the customs declaration.

The total tax obligation was over K2.3 million, against which only K192,000 had been paid, resulting in a revenue loss of K2.1 million. Both vehicles have been seized under the Customs and Excise Act.

ZRA has urged importers, exporters, transporters and clearing agents to make complete and accurate declarations, saying smuggling and deliberate misdeclaration undermine revenue collection.

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