The Namibia Revenue Agency (Namra) has revealed that goods smuggled through ungazetted points of entry along the Namibia-Zambia border have resulted in a loss of N$1,8 million in duties and taxes in 2024.
This is twice the amount of loss reported in 2023, which was N$788 927.
Namra spokesperson Steven Ndorokaze on Wednesday said the agency issued 134 fines amounting to about N$750 000 to individuals for smuggling goods.
He said many more goods that are smuggled go undetected, meaning this value could be higher.
“The smuggling of goods through ungazetted points of entry is a significant challenge along the Namibia-Zambia border. This not only results in revenue losses, but also undermines our efforts to protect society, as some of these goods pose serious health and safety risks to the communities,” he said.
Ndorokaze said the agency is fighting the issue by collaborating with law enforcement and border agencies.
“Furthermore, collaboration between Namibian and Zambian border agencies has improved significantly, and community reports of smuggling activities indicate that outreach programmes are fostering vigilance and compliance,” he said.
Ndorokaze, however, said the agency’s efforts are hampered by the fact that the border is vast, with some sections accessible only by canoes along the river.
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