Photo credit: Papua New Guinea Customs Facebook Page
A total of K7.4 million in duties (taxes) and penalties (fines) have been recouped from enforcement operations by the PNG Customs Services. With a new direction, reform and approach the efficient recovery process was a result of the tireless efforts shown by the Customs enforcement team. The enforcement activities carried out were strictly in compliance with PNG Customs Laws.
PNG Customs Services Chief Commissioner, David Towe stated that as trading activities increased in the country, customs are keeping a close watch on unlawful trade and traveling activities to serve business interests and protect PNG citizens.
Mr. Towe disclosed that in the mid of this year 2022, a total of K7.4 million from customs duties and penalties were recovered as a result of enforcement operations. Previously, in the first half of 2020 Customs PNG had seen an increase in activities managed and undertaken at the national border command.
“The critical role of protecting Intellectual property rights interventions, investigations and prosecutions reflects PNG Customs efforts in securing the community and promoting legitimate trade and travel, importantly to safeguard PNG’s economic prosperity and sovereignty”. Mr. Towe said
“Customs enforcement activities are driven by intelligence and targeting roles of high risk traders who are profiled and kept under close scrutiny” He said.
He further stated that Customs intelligence do the assessment reports and provide this information to customs operations for interventions such as; inspections, searches, interdictions, and detections leading to investigations and prosecutions. This also includes the recovering of evaded revenue.
“Over the first half of 2022, the Customs intelligence team have completed and disseminated two intelligence assessments on areas of risks. Five monthly bulletins highlighting trends in customs breaches and detections, 6 cargo profiles, 49 container examinations and facility cargo targets to be referred for container X-ray examinations”. Mr. Towe said.
