South African Revenue Service (SARS) Customs concluded three days of successful enforcement operations on Wednesday 14 October 2009, targeting non compliance with the Customs and Excise Act.
The raids led by SARS Customs and supported by South African Police Service (SAPS) and the immigration division of Home Affairs also form part of government’s nationwide plan to provide assistance to the local clothing and textile industry which has lost close to 7 000 jobs in the challenging economic environment
During the operation, SARS customs and its campaign partners visited China City in Ottery, Inyanga Junction in Mannenbeg, lower Durban Street in Bellville and warehouses in Lansdowne. The operation resulted in the detention of an estimated 300 tons valued at R45 million, including the seizure of four tons of branded sports wear counterfeit goods valued at R600 000. Immigration arrested four foreign nationals for contraventions against the Immigration Act.
A warehouse in Lansdowne that supplies clothing to some of South Africa’s leading retailers was detained for several infringements including labelling, misclassification and undervaluation. Five tons of clothing and textile estimated at R1,9 million was also detained from a leading retailers distribution centre for infringements against the Merchandise Marks Act and Customs and Excise Act.
Customs is further investigating previous transactions between the retailer and warehouse (in Lansdowne) and its qualification for the use of Duty Credit Certificates (DCC’s). SARS customs will continue applying additional attention to the proportion of clothing and textile imports that are cleared using DCC’s as abuse of these certificates contributes in promoting unfair trade practices.
SARS urges members of public and trading communities to contact its fraud and anti-corruption hotline on 0800 00 28 70 with information on any suspect business behaviour in their respective communities.
SARS Customs would like to thank all the participating government enforcement agencies for their contribution to the raids and looks forward to similar cooperation as the campaign continues throughout the country.
Issued by: South African Revenue Service
16 October 2009
Source: South African Revenue Service (http://www.sars.gov.za/)
