RSL confirms seizure of undeclared second-hand goods from China

Revenue Services Lesotho (RSL) has confirmed the seizure of a substantial quantity of undeclared second-hand clothing, shoes, and bags imported from China.

In a statement issued this week, RSL revealed that the goods were intercepted during a routine inspection conducted on July 3 and 4 2025 at St James Sports Ground, where importers had arranged to offload consignments for customs clearance.

According to the statement, discrepancies were discovered between the declared items and the actual goods presented. The importers had declared 232 bales of assorted clothing, 32 bales of shoes, and five bales of bags. However, upon inspection, RSL officers found an additional 137 bales of clothing, 197 bales of shoes, and 15 bales of bags that had not been declared.

These undeclared goods are considered a direct violation of the Customs and Excise Act No. 10 of 1982 (as amended) and are classified as an attempt to evade lawful duties and taxes.

Following the discovery, RSL officials instructed the importers to take possession only of the declared goods. The undeclared items were officially detained on 4 July and transferred to an RSL warehouse for safekeeping and further administrative processing.

The statement further notes that the release of the confiscated goods will only occur after the payment of outstanding customs duties, Value Added Tax (VAT), and applicable penalties.

“The detained goods will remain in custody pending full compliance with all legal requirements,” RSL confirmed.

RSL has reiterated its commitment to facilitating legitimate trade while enforcing compliance with customs laws to safeguard national revenue and promote fair business practices. The agency has urged all importers and traders to ensure accurate declarations and adhere strictly to customs procedures to avoid penalties, delays, and confiscations.

One of the affected importers voiced frustration, claiming that similar delays have persisted since January.

“Our goods have been held for months, and it’s affecting our ability to make a living. We urgently need to sell them to generate income,” she said.