Dear Editor,

The Guyana Revenue Authority has recently been reporting on their seizures of smuggled chickens, alcohol, and tobacco from various parts of the country in a number of articles. Although I knew smuggling was illegal, I hadn’t realised the harm it caused to government revenue until now.

Though I’m not a smoker, I am a social drinker and have noticed many unfamiliar cigarette brands being sold, as well as alcohol without tax stamps. This was of extra concern to me, given the laws to have pictures on cigarette boxes and the tax stamps on both alcohol and cigarettes. But, somehow, these items are able to creep into our shops. These illegal goods are also not subject to the same government tax as locally produced alcohol.

The GRA and other agencies must continue tackling illegal goods smuggled into our country with urgency and dedication and would be strategic in the ongoing battle against crime, as business operators may not even be aware of the dark side of these products.

These products which have entered the country through illegal channels are the same ones often used by bigger smugglers and tax evaders. Illegal consumer goods (fake and counterfeit) that can find their way into our homes are part of the same web of human traffickers and organized crime. We therefore become an unwitting part of an international crime web, involving drugs, people smuggling, and other truly despicable crimes.

The Police and other authorities need to make inroads by following the trail of the low-hanging fruits of these items.

Illegal trade in goods steals from us all; it does not contribute to our economic development and growth and undermines legitimate businesses. These cheap goods and their dark connections must force us all to ask ourselves, is the price worth it?

Concerned citizen