SARS cracks down on illicit trade

The acting chief officer for Customs and Excise, Beyers Theron, addressed the media in Durban on Friday and spoke about a multi-pronged initiative that SARS has embarked on.

Theron says SARS is working with various government departments to benefit from complimentary pieces of legislation, systems and technology, human resources, skills and capacity.

“Further to these operational partnerships, an illicit trade intergovernmental task team was recently established - with the likes of SARS, the Economic Development Department, National Treasury and the Department of Trade and Industry already part of this team. We’re hoping other administrations and regulatory bodies will join as we go forward,” Theron says, “We are sending out a message to say that enough is enough and we are going to come after everybody who is undermining our laws and neg impacting our economy through crime”.