Last Saturday, Customs announced the seizure in the Seychelles of 22.5 kg of gold from Madagascar. The metals were discovered in a ship that left Nosy Be on October 12. It was however a boat controlled by elements of the Maritime and River Port Agency (APMF) as well as elements of the Border Police and the Gendarmerie and Customs.
For the customs, it is a trans-shipment that took place at sea, a practice well known to traffickers. As usual, however, the traffickers were only caught elsewhere, beyond the national borders. As in other cases of this kind, such as the 73 kilos of gold seized in South Africa, the Malagasy authorities are asking “the Seychelles authorities for a counter inspection of the ship” and for cooperation.
Just the day before yesterday, Customs also announced an attempt to illegally export funds, seizing 28,775 euros from the hand luggage of a passenger on flight AF 935 to Paris. In relation to this seizure, Customs reminds us that “any person traveling abroad has the right to carry banknotes in foreign currencies exchanged at foreign exchange offices or approved intermediaries up to 10,000 euros or its equivalent in other currencies”.
This week, an attempt to traffic the country’s mineral resources, particularly precious stones, was also foiled by customs and law enforcement officials at Ivato International Airport.
