afrol News, 20 October - Swaziland has extended fuel authentication contract with Authentix Inc. through 2009, as a way of curbing smuggling in tiny southern African Kingdom.

Authentix programme has reportedly helped southern African nation increase sale of legal tax paid fuel by more than 20%, which in turn resulted in a corresponding drop in number of commercial and retail sites said to be illegally selling smuggled fuel.

According to reports, Swaziland originally put into operation Authentix programme in 2004 to fight wide scale tax revenue losses linked with sale of smuggled fuel.

Authentix fuel markers are added to all lawful fuel sold in Swaziland.

"A quick and effective test that utilises proprietary devices is used to detect these fuel markers. Presence of markers proves that fuel is legitimate and absence of markers means fuel is illegal. Test can also determine if legitimate and smuggled fuel have been mixed," a media report explained.

Director of Authentix's African operations, Royce Ferguson noted today that company manages programme turnkey, which is real value for the country.

"By taking care of everything from marking fuel to coordinating testing process and providing court defensible evidence of fuel cheating, we make it easy for Swaziland to get results and seek remediation when necessary," Mr Ferguson said.

Reports from Authentix also show that programme underscores company's Social-Capitalist ethic of contributing to society through its business practices.

Operating globally in five continents, Authentix assists governments by recovering tax revenues and securing their currencies, while also protecting world's leading brands.

In addition to programme in Swaziland, Authentix runs African government fuel marking programmes in Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania and Kenya.

In 2007, Authentix was awarded largest fuel adulterant marking contract in history, when India hired Authentix to mark all government-subsidised kerosene.

As global leader in authentication solutions for brand protection and excise tax recovery, Authentix is on frontlines of battle against counterfeiting and smuggling.

Company offers a wide range of world-class solutions that are based on innovative nano-scale engineering and mass-serialisation, so that brand integrity can be preserved as products move through supply chain.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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