When a foreign fishing vessel comes into any Fiji port – the Fiji Revenue and Customs Services ensures that the whole ship is searched.

FRCS Revenue and Customs Deputy Director Revenue Management, Jonetani Vuto says these vessels have been to the high seas and they need to be thoroughly inspected.

Vuto says when their officers search the vessel, they sometimes find that some goods are kept in rooms rather than storage spaces.

“When ships go to high seas and other foreign ports they are entitled to load duty free stores – so tobacco is loaded but it’s duty free. The only time that can float into the market, before they enter into Fiji waters, they started buying it out from the stores and keep it in the room so when the vessels comes into the port – customs go for the ships storage where they store their consumables, liquor and cigarettes and seal it.”

The Director made the revelation during their submission to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence yesterday.