Pretoria, 18 April 2019 – The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has released its latest consolidated Customs busts statistics from 01 April 2018 to 31 March 2019. The total value of all goods confiscated amounted to R3 694 742 928.

Some of the statistics include:

• Narcotics: 892 busts valued at R535 132 535
• Cigarettes: 220 busts valued at R50 252 520
• CITES (including endangered species such as abalone): 43 busts valued at R 42 224 372
• Currency: 14 busts valued at R64 986 630
• Viagra / Viagra Generics: 170 busts valued at R69 280 100
• Counterfeit clothing, footwear and other goods:  1 526 busts valued at R2 710 118 775
• Clothing and Textiles (second hand and other infringements):  407 busts valued at R7 988 166
• Alcohol: 298 busts valued at R18 430 752  

Compared with the same period during the previous financial year (April 2017 to March 2018), the number of busts has increased to 6 828 from 4 840, and the value of the busts has increased to R3 694 742 928 from R2 461 425 369.

“Acting Chief Officer: Beyers Theron continues to commend Customs officers for ensuring that South Africa’s ports of entry remain closed to illicit goods. Also travellers, particularly in this time period, are encouraged to familiarise themselves by visiting www.sars.gov.za with what goods are allowed or not so as to ease their travel into and out of the country.”

• Some of the high-profile busts which took place during the last year include the following:
• Cannabis Oil, with an estimated value of R300 000 000, en route from Canada to South Africa, was seized at Durban Harbour on 07 January 2019.
• Acetanthranil (mandrax precursor), with an estimated value of R45 000 000, en route from Hong Kong to South Africa, was seized at OR Tambo International Airport on 17 December 2018
• Acetanthranil (mandrax precursor), with an estimated value of R43 000 000, en route from Hong Kong to South Africa, was seized at OR Tambo International Airport on 17 December 2018
• Sexual Enhancement Tablets (Generic Viagra) valued at R30 000 000, en route from India to South Africa, were seized at OR Tambo International Airport on 13 May 2018
• Sexual Enhancement Tablets (Generic Viagra) valued at R24 192 000, en route from India to South Africa, were seized at OR Tambo International Airport on 13 December 2018
• Sexual Enhancement Tablets (Generic Viagra) valued at R4 400 000, en route from Hong Kong to South Africa, were seized at OR Tambo International Airport on 30 December 2018
• Shark Fins, with an estimated value of R7 200 000, en route from Brazil via South Africa to Hong Kong, was seized at OR Tambo International Airport on 04 March 2019
• Abalone, with an estimated value of R8 960 000, en route from Cape Town to Johannesburg, was seized at City Deep on 15 February 2019
• Rhino Horn, with an estimated value of R23 200 000, en route from South Africa to Dubai, was seized at OR Tambo International Airport on 09 January 2019
• Currency (USD) equivalent to R9 460 500, en route from South Africa to Hong Kong, was seized at OR Tambo International Airport on 11 September 2018
• Currency (USD) equivalent to R13 798 882, en route from South Africa to Dubai, was seized at OR Tambo International Airport on 25 February 2019
• Currency (USD) equivalent to R14 298 360, en route from Angola via South Africa and Dubai to China, was seized at OR Tambo International Airport on 30 December 2018
• 1 766 200 Cigarettes were seized at Beit Bridge Border Post on 17 April 2018
• 2 869 480 Cigarettes were seized at Beit Bridge Border Post on 27  March 2019
• 5 012 040 Cigarettes were seized at Beit Bridge Border Post on 24 November 2018