The Zambia Revenue Authority has secured the conviction of Avocado Mining Limited for attempted smuggling after the company pleaded guilty to ten counts involving the attempted export of copper concentrates falsely declared as Portland cement.
The company, based in Kalulushi, was convicted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Court Division of the Kitwe Subordinate Court after attempting to export 13 consignments of copper concentrates valued at more than K23.9 Million for duty purposes in July 2025.
The export duty involved was about four million kwacha.
The court fined the company K100, 000 payable by September 30, 2026.
ZRA says the company has also paid K5.4 million in assessed duty and penalties and reimbursed the State K1.5 million in prosecution expenses.
Meanwhile, ZRA Corporate Communications Manager Oliver Nzala says the authority has seized two Toyota Land Cruisers after detecting customs misclassification in a separate case.
The vehicles were intercepted at the Kafue checkpoint on September 18, 2026, after entering Zambia through the Chirundu One Stop Border Post.
Mr. Nzala says a physical inspection 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.
ZRA says the total tax obligation was more than K2.3 million, but only K192,000 had been paid, resulting in a revenue shortfall of about K2.1 million.
The Authority says the two vehicles have since been seized under the Customs and Excise Act.
ZRA has urged importers, exporters, transporters and clearing agents to make complete and accurate declarations and pay all duties and taxes lawfully due, warning that smuggling and deliberate misdeclaration undermine revenue collection and disadvantage compliant businesses.
By Rachel Mumba
