Wheeler dealer loses his wheels

A man never parts with his wheels, no matter what... unless, of course, the eagle-eyed taxman comes calling.

Last month, wide awake South African tax officials swooped on the owner of a supercar at Beit Bridge border post, as he tried to smuggle his R13.8-million limited edition LaFerrari back into the country.

In February the owner - the SA Revenue Service declined to name him - told SARS he was taking his vehicle, which had been impounded in a bonded warehouse for three years, to the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The Ferrari was seized three years ago when he first brought it into South Africa, said SARS spokesman Sandile Memela, because the owner failed to follow the correct import procedures, including paying the necessary customs duties and VAT.

"So the vehicle stayed in a bonded warehouse for three years because the owner never completed the required customs processes."

In February, said Memela, the owner submitted an export declaration to take the car to the DRC through Beit Bridge border post.

"A day later there was an attempt to get the vehicle back into South Africa through the same border post. The car was intercepted as it was being smuggled back in and has been seized."

He said the owner had been contacted and ordered to say what his intentions were in terms of paying the customs and excise duties.