Authorities seize spirits in Port Moresby

THE municipal health authority yesterday seized 100 cartons of various spirits at a Customs service and agent’s yard in Vadavada outside Port Moresby, and destroyed them at its Vector Control Division’s yard in Gordon.
The operation was conducted in conjunction with PNG Customs and Independent Consumer and Competition Commission (ICCC).
Their officers supervised and witnessed the destruction.
On learning about the undeclared alcohol items with other declared ones in a container, PNG Customs officers impounded it for formalities last Friday.
The importer, MH Suppliers Ltd, is in China while PNG Customs service and agent Cindy and Roy (PNG) Ltd was doing its clearance.
National Capital District health officers were invited to verify the cartons of alcohol.
Senior environmental health officer (Moresby South District) Silas Jonathan said they confirmed the items properly and condemned them on the spot.
He added that the items were not in compliance to the labelling requirements of the Food Sanitation Act and Food Sanitation Regulation respectively.
Jonathan said they were condemned and seized because the labels were not in English and were not declared with an intention to smuggle.
Jonathan commended PNG Customs officers for detecting and identifying the smuggled items, urging them to do more.
He said the production and importation of fake products were a concern to local authorities, saying the surveillance and detection at points of entry should be tightened up.
Jonathan also called on other relevant authorities manning the country’s entry points to step up their efforts.