The Royal Customs and
Excise Department (RCED) conducted routine checks last week, including
at the Cargo Division of the Brunei International Airport Cargo Centre
(BIACC) on July 13-14, where more than 200 units of undeclared
electrical items and 450 pharmaceutical products were intercepted.
Meanwhile, 10 undeclared Home Office Laminator units were discovered in a routine check of a guardhouse in Muara Port.
On July 15, in another
routine check at the Cargo Division of the BIACC, officers found 30
packets of undeclared dried food without permit from the Brunei
Darussalam Food Authority (BDFA).
That same day, enforcement
personnel at the Labu Control Post in Temburong District stopped a
commercial vehicle transporting goods over the absence of a permit.
On July 16, officers at the Labu Control Post seized several undeclared items such as car spare parts and survey equipment.
RCED also seized six
cartons and 10 packets of cigarettes during an operation in Tanah Jambu.
A 39-year-old local man was detained and brought in for further
inquiries.
An operation was carried
out at an empty restaurant in Lambak Kiri, where a 45-year-old
Indonesian man was detained for the alleged possession of 18 cartons and
168 packets of cigarettes.
The RCED officers also found banknotes amounting to BND 1,976.25, SDG 2.90 and IDR 969,000 on the premises.
Bringing commercial and
private commodities into the country without a valid declaration
document is an offence under the Customs Order 2006 and the Excise Order
2006.
If convicted, the customs
agents involved will be levied with a fine of no more than BND500 or
prosecuted and have their licences revoked.
The public is also advised
to steer clear of smuggling activities or the importation and
exportation of contraband and prohibited items without authorisation
from the authorities.
The possession of contraband and prohibited items is an offence under Section 146 of the Excise Order 2006.
The RCED also urged
companies to ensure that information provided to the Brunei Darussalam
National Single Window (BDNSW) is correct and accurate.
To report smuggling
activities or violation of customs regulations, contact 8714422 or
8721422, or visit the nearest customs office.
Informants’ identities will be kept strictly confidential.
Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin, July 20, 2021