The Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) has deployed seven drones along the country’s borders as part of a major drive to curb smuggling and recover millions of kwacha lost to illegal trade.
The drones, procured with support from the World Bank, are now operational in border districts including Dedza, Mchinji and parts of Mzimba — areas authorities say are heavily affected by smuggling through informal crossing points.
Speaking to Zodiak Broadcasting Station, MRA taxpayer education manager Wadza Otomani said the authority introduced aerial surveillance after recording significant revenue losses linked to undetected smuggled goods entering the country.
“Smuggling is a serious challenge, especially in Dedza, Mchinji and parts of Mzimba, so we procured these drones with funding from the World Bank to address that,” said Otomani.
He said the initiative forms part of efforts to help MRA meet its K6 trillion revenue target for the 2026/27 financial year.
According to MRA, smugglers have increasingly turned to uncharted routes to bypass official border posts, making it difficult for customs officers to monitor the movement of goods using conventional methods.
The drones are expected to strengthen border surveillance by monitoring illegal crossings from the air and relaying real-time information to enforcement officers on the ground.
Otomani said the technology would complement existing cargo-tracking systems already used to monitor imports and exports.
More than 21 MRA officers have undergone specialised training in drone operation and maintenance in collaboration with the Malawi University of Science and Technology and the Civil Aviation Authority.
MRA said the new surveillance system is already showing promise in improving compliance and reducing tax evasion in border districts.
Authorities believe tighter monitoring could help close loopholes exploited by smugglers and boost domestic revenue collection.
Under Malawi’s tax and customs laws, individuals caught smuggling goods face heavy fines and the seizure of merchandise.
MRA said the use of drones would not only improve border security but also create a fairer trading environment for compliant businesses operating through formal channels.
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