Company fined $10,000 for smuggling goods into Fiji

A company has been issued with a Customs Infringement Notice of $10,000 as Fiji Revenue and Customs Officers have intercepted goods that were smuggled into the country last week.

Customs Officers in Lautoka discovered surplus and undeclared goods found in a container.

The goods were shipped from China and were consigned to a newly established family supermarket and findings indicate that overseas family members of the importer assisted in purchasing and packing extra goods.

Fiji Revenue and Customs Service Chief Executive Officer Visvanath Das says the total value of surplus and undeclared goods is just above $18,000 with applicable duty of $7,613.30 which excludes the penalty.

He says items such as chocolates, supermarket shelves, tea towels, cables, plastic basin and bowls were some of the items that were not declared all of which attract fiscal duty of 32%.

He has reminded traders and importers that they must declare all the goods in their consignment and failure to do so now incurs fixed penalties of up to $25,000.

Das says they may also prosecute offenders involved in fraudulent evasion of duties and taxes and those found guilty may face imprisonment to a maximum of 10 years.