The Malawi Police Service says it is making strides on countering acts of illegal export of farm produce to other countries.

Director of Research and Planning Unit at Malawi Police Service Happy Mkandawire told YFM online that the law enforcement agency has been intercepting trucks hauling farm produce to other countries without permit.

He said: “We are doing quite enough progress; you might be aware that quite often you hear reports that some trucks have been intercepted on the verge of illegal exporting farm produce from Malawi.

“Yes, there are reports but, on our side, we are doing our best and we can ably say that we are winning this war against illegal export of farm produce because we have our officers across the country in all the borders.”

Mkandawire added that there are a number of cases relating on the same currently in the country’s courts that the law enforcers are prosecuting.

“We cross check, we intercept, we arrest and then bring them to court those that do illegal export of farm produce and there are a number of cases currently being heard in the country’s courts where trucks were forfeited to government,” Mkandawire said.

Earlier this year, Ministry of Trade partially lifted a ban imposed on maize exports as crop estimates indicated that Malawi was expected to realise a bumper harvest of more than 1 million metric tonnes.

According to Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) restricted exports are goods which may be exported in pursuance of a license or permit issued by or on behalf of a competent authority.

Maize exports are restricted but following the lifting of the ban by the Ministry of Trade, exporters can now export maize.

However, exporters are required to apply for an export license from the Ministry of Trade which would only issue export licenses to exporters with proof of verifiable maize stocks from the previous agricultural season.