The Jamaica Customs Agency (JCA) says during the 2015/16 financial year, it 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 m.

Meanwhile, penalties and fines related to these breaches amounted to more than $83 m.

The Customs Agency says it is confident that it will be able to ‘clamp down’ more effectively on importers who attempt to circumvent customs regulations and take steps to evade customs duties with its Automated System for Customs Data (Asycuda) world.

The implementation of Asycuda world requires that cargo manifest declarations be submitted to the JCA prior to the arrival of the cargo, which has strengthened the risk management capabilities of the agency.

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.

(IRIEFM)