Several persons were today taken into custody after officials of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) swooped down on a St Vincent and the Grenadines-registered vessel and seized a quantity of undeclared alcoholic beverages.
Reports are that the enforcement unit of the GRA was provided with a tip sometime during the course of last evening and officials moved in on the vessel, which carried the name `Mr John’. The vessel was intercepted in the Atlantic around 9 pm and was reportedly headed to the East Coast of Demerara (ECD) at the time.
It was subsequently searched early today at the Kingston, Georgetown wharf of BK International and according to reports more than 5 persons who were directly involved in the illegal act were detained.
Commissioner General of the GRA, Khurshid Sattaur when asked about the seizure today told Stabroek News that the find was a “major discovery”. He said that the GRA would be issuing a statement regarding the seizure.
The goods, reports indicate, included more than 600 cases of Heineken and Corona beer and 50 cases each of Johnnie Walker whisky, Hennessey and Absolut Vodka. Reports are that a smaller vessel was being used to off-load the goods to transport same to a location on the ECD and persons on board that vessel were subsequently detained.
According to a source, an ECD businessman claimed ownership of the goods and he was being grilled along with several others today.
