On Saturday, MRA spokesperson, Steven Kapoloma, described smuggling as a serious challenge that is compromising efforts by the authority to meet revenue targets on time this financial year.

Kapoloma said there is a sudden rise in the smuggling of beer and some beverages, cement, cooking oil and sugar and the situation is getting worse.

But Kapoloma says MRA is optimistic that using several interventions, the authority will be able to meet its revenue target of 1.3 trillion Malawi Kwacha by July this year.