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GRA seizes $15M in liquor
-five on bail
Authorities have announced success in cracking down on what is emerging to
A GRA officer examines a portion of the seized liquor.
be a vibrant trade in smuggled liquor.
According to the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) yesterday, it has seized a large quantity of foreign liquor that was being transported in a Bedford truck at Mahaica, East Coast Demerara, on Friday.
Five persons were held and later placed on bail as investigations continue, the tax agency said yesterday.
“On Friday March 23, 2012, the Law Enforcement and Investigation Division (LEID) of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), acting on information received, seized a quantity of alcoholic beverages that was being transported in a Bedford Truck at Mahaica, East Coast Demerara.”
GRA said that the vehicle contained a quantity of uncustomed alcoholic beverages valued approximately at $15M and included Ciroc Vodka, Johnny Walker (Black Label), Hennessey, Smirnoff Vodka, Heineken Beers and Tequila.
“When intercepted, the driver and porters were unable to produce any documentation to prove that the goods were legally imported and that the relevant duties and taxes were paid. This was in contravention of Section 218 (d) of the Customs Act, Chapter 82:01.”
The government agency said that an investigation is underway and information will be released to the public upon completion.
This was not the first time that GRA has seized smuggled liquor. A popular Main Street nightspot was recently in the news after a consignment of liquor came in on a shipment but was not declared. The management later said it was unaware of the liquor.
But smuggled liquor, according to GRA officials, is big business for especially nightclubs and bars.
A US$8 bottle of Tequila could be resold in Guyana for as much as $8,000.
Vodka like the Absolute and Grey Goose brand, are also in high demand.
The smuggled liquor comes especially from neighboring Suriname.
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