Visvanath Das

More than $18,000 worth of goods have been intercepted by officers from the Fiji Revenue and Customs Services last week.

Chief Executive Visvanath Das says these goods were smuggled into the country.

Das adds the goods were shipped from China and was consigned to a newly established family supermarket.

Das says physical inspection by Customs Officers in Lautoka discovered surplus and undeclared goods found in a container.

He says preliminary findings indicate that the importers family assisted in purchasing and packing the extra goods.

Das reveals that the total value of surplus and undeclared goods is just above $18,000 with applicable duty of $8,000.

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

The company has been issued with a Customs Infringement Notice of $10,000 additional to fraudulent evasion penalty.

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 $25,000.00.

FRCS may also prosecute offenders involved in fraudulent evasion of duties and taxes and those found guilty may face imprisonment to a maximum of ten years.