‘We won’t stop’: Customs continues clampdown

The Jamaica Customs Agency (JCA), has expressed confidence that since April 1, it has been able to ‘clamp down’ even more effectively on importers who attempt to circumvent customs regulations and take steps to evade customs duties.

CEO/Commissioner of the JCA, Major Richard Reese, says the agency is urging importers, commercial and otherwise, to obey the regulations governing the importation of goods, in order to prevent being breached by the JCA.

According to Major Reese, the JCA has had to deal with several cases of breach, even though majority of the importers are compliant.

During the 2015/16 Financial Year, the JCA registered in excess of 700 breaches, covering both commercial and non-commercial imports. The additional duties, taxes and fees collected as a result of these breaches amounted to more than $35 million, while penalties and fines related to these breaches amounted to more than $83 million.

Since January this year, the JCA detected more than 100 breaches of break bulk and containerised shipments.