Following another sting operation recently on the Atlantic Ocean, the Law Enforcement and Investigation Division (LEID) of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) intercepted a motor vessel containing hundreds of boxes of foreign chicken and mosquito coils.

According to the GRA, the captain and two sailors who were on board the vessel at the time were apprehended and placed into custody. The tax agency noted that the duo were first time offenders.

However, the GRA stated that many of the perpetrators are repeat offenders. Second time offenders will be liable to pay three times the duties and taxes as a fine. Third time offenders may be prosecuted and/or be allowed to pay three times the value of the item as a fine, as compensation in lieu of court proceedings.

GRA noted that the offences in many cases also result in seizure of the goods and confiscation of the vehicles involved.

“The LEID operation exemplifies the GRA’s commitment to deter, disrupt, and prosecute individuals who attempt to import prohibited items, and evade the payment of their fair share of duties and taxes. Whistleblowers have significantly improved LEID’s performance and the agency’s revenue collection, and the general public must be complemented in aiding the Authority efforts in stamping out this activity,” the tax agency noted.