Customs fines logger K3mil

 A LOGGING company has been fined K3 million by Customs after it made false declaration of goods on its shipments.

Customs said the company, Growood PNG Ltd, based in Madang, illegally smuggled and falsely declared shipments which included vehicles, machinery, logging equipment and fuel destined for its logging camp.

The pontoon and barge Muragawa 2 and Muragawa 5 which transported the equipment were intercepted and impounded by Customs officials following an inspection on April 12.  

Customs Commissioner Gary Juffa said last week that those who traded illegally and had no respect for PNG laws were not welcome here.

“Pay your dues and respect our laws or get out,” Juffa said.

 “We are working on a zero-tolerance policy. 

“I urge companies and individuals doing business in PNG to abide by our nation’s laws.”

Juffa said apart from the fine imposed, a passport, documents, electronic files and other evidence were confiscated by customs officers and police after a raid conducted at the owner’s premises.

He said four vessels recently impounded by Customs had now been seized following the completion of investigations into the alleged breaches of the Customs Act.

Juffa said the items seized on another two vessels, the tugboat and barge Kismet 18 Kismet 19 in New Ireland last May, were all undeclared and smuggled, and would become state properties. 

Juffa said the companies were also liable to pay substantial fines imposed by Customs. 

“The goods will be auctioned if the companies fail to pay the fines within a specified period of time,” Juffa said. 

Kismet 18 and Kismet 19 were loaded with heavy machinery, vehicles and fuel destined for logging ponds in New Ireland when they were impounded.

He said the owners of the goods were asked to co-operate with Customs during the investigations into the alleged breaches of the Customs Act. 

“A substantial portion of the fuel was not declared,” Juffa said.  

“It was alleged that the importer declared only 50,000 litres of diesel, however, upon inspection, it was found that another 100,000 litres of diesel was not declared,” he added. 

He said upon that discovery, a second invoice was produced bearing the same invoice number but had the correct quantity and price and had the words “For own use” printed on it.  

He said Customs found that the company withheld genuine invoices for its accounting purposes and supplying a second lower invoice for Customs Tax purposes.