The government has sent out a stern warning to all businesses and customs officers to stop stealing from taxpayers.

The Finance Ministry has lodged a complaint with the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) about some operational aspects of the Fiji Revenue and Customs Authority.

Finance Minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says FICAC sent an investigation team to FRCA on Friday afternoon and seized some documents and computers.

Sayed-Khaiyum says they were given access to an email that was sent out by the General Manager of the Customs division on the 30th of last month.

The email read that “effective from that date, no customs staff is to allow any Ethical Standard Unit staff into the customs area or disclose any information to them without consent of customs executive. Any staff in breach of this instruction will be dealt with accordingly.”

Sayed-Khaiyum says the investigation may be able to uncover other agencies and networks that are involved in these discrepancies.

“Do not steal from the Fijian people, if you’re a businessman or a woman, if you’re importing goods into Fiji, you declare the right amount, state the right tariff code, pay the right amount of money, make your profits but do it legally. Don’t give bribes to customs officers. To custom officers do not take ,bribes.”

The Finance Minister will meet with the FRCA board about the email today.