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Customs seizes smuggled cigarettes
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Posted on Jan 23 2014
Whether through pure luck or a keen sense of smell, the Customs Services Division was able to seize Wednesday 40 cartons of smuggled cigarettes hidden in two boxes mixed with some 400 boxes of various merchandise in a 20-foot container from China. The container and the smuggled cigarettes were consigned to a Lower Base wholesaler, New Plus Enterprise, Customs director Joe Mafnas said.
“[It’s] more like finding a needle in a haystack,” Mafnas said.
It was supposed to be a random customs inspection of the contents of the 20-foot container. It turned into a 100 percent inspection upon the discovery of two boxes meant to be electric fans but were instead filled with toys on top and smuggled cigarettes underneath. The other 10 to 15 electric fan boxes contained actual electric fans.
Mafnas is thankful for and lauded Customs personnel for successfully intercepting the smuggled cigarettes.
The Customs director said the consignee was fined $2,000 for the smuggled cigarettes, and was assessed twice for excise tax.
Mafnas said he gave a stern warning to New Plus Enterprise that the next time it’s caught smuggling cigarettes, they will be assessed the maximum fine of $10,000 plus excise taxes.
He said it was the first time New Plus Enterprises was found smuggling cigarettes so they were assessed only $2,000 on Wednesday.
The consignee paid the fine. Mafnas said the cigarettes, which he labels “contrabands,” are up for destruction.
