The Law Enforcement and Investigation Division (LEID) of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) continues to target smuggling as part its mandate to enforce the collection of tax revenue.
The LEID is legally allowed to conduct investigations and seizures where there is suspicion of tax evasion and impose fines, the GRA said in a press statement yesterday.
In January 2013, GRA said, the division seized a quantity of smuggled goods and detained several persons. Some of the seizures included two SUVs – a Toyota Landcruiser Prado and a Toyota Hilux Surf; a quantity of alcoholic beverages and brand-name clothing. Areas which were targeted included Georgetown; Kumaka Landing; Port Kaituma, North West District; Montrose, East Coast Demerara and the West Bank and West Coast Demerara.
According to the GRA, most of the investigations are completed and the offenders agreed to pay the applicable customs duties, taxes and fines. In other cases, investigations are ongoing and the GRA may have recourse to actions in the court of law.
The LEID continues to work with the task force on fuel smuggling and contraband to put systems in place to enhance enforcement activities. The GRA acknowledges that its effectiveness is dependent on cooperation from the public who share information on incidents of corruption and illegal activities geared at depriving the state of revenue or causes unfair competition with local manufacturers and legitimate importers.
The GRA encourages anyone with knowledge of such illegal activities to report them by any means of providing information including via their telephone switchboard at 227-8222 or 227-6060.
