Increasing attempts to smuggle goods through ports in Solomon Islands have resulted in customs and inland revenue officials this week launching a joint operation to crack down on the practise.
Honiara International Seaport Photo: RNZI/Koroi Hawkins
Earlier this month customs intercepted a number of undeclared goods.
The new operation at the Honiara International Seaport is going on intelligence that a number of importers are attempting to smuggle, underdeclare or undervalue their goods.
The Minister of Finance and Treasury Snyder Rini said examination activities of this magnitude were challenging but he believed in the dedication of the officials involved and he is confident they would ensure importers were complying with duties and tax payable to the crown.
He said importers who did not to comply would be required to pay all taxes, including penalties, and would see their goods forfeited.
The operation will see officials conducting a full physical examination of containers of imports based on a risk management strategy that, among other factors, identifies high risk importers and risky countries of origin.
