TRA clears nine seized containers of impropriety

DAILY NEWS Reporter

DAILY NEWS Reporter THE Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) on Tuesday evening cleared nine containers that had been impounded out of suspicion that they were sneaked from an Inland Containers Depot (ICD) named PMM located at Vingunguti and hoarded at a yard in Mbezi Tangi Bovu.

The TRA Deputy Commissioner, Customs Department, Mr Patrick Mgoya, said the authority was later satisfied that the deal was clean and transfer of such containers followed all required procedures.

“We went through all the documents produced by relevant parties and found that the deal was clean. We previously suspected that containers were sneaked and probably the owners were trying to evade tax,” Mr Mgoya said.

A press statement sent to media houses earlier by the PMM ICD refuted claims that nine cargo containers seized by police were among those that evaded paying government revenues.

“The cargo containers were legally cleared and we have all documents to prove this. The PMM cannot and will never be involved in evading paying revenues to government. We are ready to cooperate with the police and TRA if there will be any need for more investigation into the matter,” the statement read in part.

The company further said that the consignment was cleared legally and it was just that the media people and the police did not have correct information.

“We acknowledge the containers were being transported from our ICD Number 015 after all the steps were completed to clear them to our yard in Mbezi Beach for storage according to agreement with our client and where they were found by the police,” the statement further stated.

Speaking earlier at the scene, the TRA Director of Taxpayer Services and Education, Mr Richard Kayombo, said the consignment was noticed on Monday night during a joint operation between the police and officers from the tax collector.

Customs legislation and regulations allow TRA to take action if the owner or clearing agent of impounded shipment does not show up in 24 hours. Such actions include confiscating the load and opening of the containers and if the goods inside are legal then they will be auctioned and if illegal the law provides that they should be destroyed.

Four drivers and trucks used to transport the cargo were put under police custody while the area was sealed-off for further investigations. The vehicles had registration number T 891 CVX, T 831 CVZ, T 877 CVS