BURS unleashes sniffer dogs to curb smuggling
Brian Benza | Wednesday November 23, 2016 18:00
The first batch of BURS’ dog handlers are expected to graduate next week Thursday before they are deployed to the entry points ahead of the festive season.
BURS commissioner of customs and excise, Phodiso Valashia told Mmegi yesterday that the dogs are trained to detect illicit drugs, endangered species, arms and ammunition, and currencies.
“We have seen an increase in the amount of drugs coming through our borders and the introduction of the sniffer dogs will go a long way in curbing these crimes. The dogs will also sniff out poachers and money launderers. There are a lot of foreign businessmen that have set up shop in Botswana, but they do not bank their money in a bid to avoid tax. We will now be better placed to detect any huge sums of money or animal trophies being smuggled across our entry points,” he said. In efforts to further restrain smuggling of other non dangerous goods, the revenue service is also procuring more scanners, which will be installed at four more border posts and the airports. According to Valashia, BURS has started the process to procure more scanners, which will be set up at a Pioneer, Ramatlabama, Martins Drift Gates and the Sir Seretse Khama International Airport.
“Apart from making the clearance of goods faster and curbing smuggling, our target is to eventually phase out the physical searches on travellers’ luggage when they cross into the country,” he told participants at a SACU Roadshow meeting held in Gaborone yesterday.
BURS currently have scanners stationed at Tlokweng, and GABCON station.
On top of money and drugs, Valashia said alcohol and tobacco are some of the most smuggled products into Botswana because of the high taxes charged here.
When excise, levies and VAT and all factored in, importation of tobacco and alcohol into Botswana attracts almost a 100% tax on top of the purchase price.