Malta Customs has announced the seizure of two loads of illegally imported material, concerning domestic appliances and cigarettes.
In a post on Facebook, Customs said that two full load containers, falsely declared as containing monitors, when in fact they were full of television sets, and another full load container, falsely declared as containing generators, when it was full of air conditioning units, were withheld by the Customs Department for further investigations.
All three containers were intended for the domestic market.
In the first two containers, 1,627 television sets were found, while the second container was carrying 188 A/C indoor units and 171 A/C outdoor units. In both cases, the importers were presented with a seizure note.
Meanwhile, Customs Enforcement Officials have seized 3,880 cigarettes from a cargo ship which entered the Malta Freeport Terminal last night.
The ship’s captain had declared on the pratique deposition presented to Customs that the ship or its crew were not carrying any other cigarettes except those declared as ship stores. However, following a rummage search on the ship by Customs Enforcement Officials, almost 10 cartons of cigarettes not bearing any excise banderoles were elevated.
The cigarettes were seized pending investigation by the Customs Department.
In delicate times like these, the statement concluded,Customs Officials were ensuring the safety of the Maltese frontiers against contraband operations which endanger the nation’s fiscal interests.
