Maputo — The Mozambican Tax Authority (ATM) has announced the seizure of a truck containing 1,080 boxes of contraband cigarettes.

A statement from the ATM said that the seizure took place last week in what was described as a "routine inspection" in the port of Maputo. The truck was taking a container supposedly to Swaziland. When the container was opened, it was found to contain 1,080 boxes of cigarettes from the United Arab Emirates, valued at 60,800 US dollars.

Customs agents suspected that, in reality, the cigarettes would be sold illegally in Mozambique, without paying any duties or taxes. So customs contacted the supposed owner of the goods in Swaziland - but this company said it knew nothing about the cigarettes.

Statements made by the driver of the truck were "contradictory", said the ATM statement. The Maputo customs court is now attempting to ascertain the true owner of the merchandise.

The taxes that should be paid on these cigarettes are in excess of two million meticais (around 82,000 US dollars).