The Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) has procured six drones to help it halt smuggling of goods along the country’s boarder districts, the Authority’s Director of Information and Communication Max Mlombwa has disclosed.

Mlomba was speaking in Thyolo during a graduation of students who have undergone training on drones and data technology at the Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST) in the district.

“With the emergence of technology, smugglers are finding ways of invading tax so there is need to imploy new measures,” he said.

In her remarks, MUST Vice Chancellor Professor Address Malata said time has come for Malawi to adopt the use of modern technologies in curbing malpractices that frustrate national development.

Among other things, smuggling entails the illegal importation or exportation of goods which when seized, can make MRA fine the smuggler up to three times the value of the smuggled goods.

Of the 36 who have graduated, 20 are MRA employees.