Georgetown: The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) seized hundreds of cases of liquor recently which had none of the special security-featured revenue stamps on them. The sudden raids are targeting major hotels and restaurants.
Reports indicate that more than 750 cases were seized. A surprise visits occurred at the Pegasus Hotel and the Sleepin Int’l locations and reportedly at the Kanuku Suites, Campbellville, among other places.
Both of the Sleepin locations- on Church Street and Brickdam- were said to have been visited.
Several hundred cases of high-end liquor were seized in total at various facilities.
The establishments were unable to explain why the special excise stamps were not on the bottles.
The visits reportedly involved several officials of GRA’s Law Enforcement and Investigation Division (LEID).
The clampdowns will be continuing in the coming weeks with GRA indicating that raids will be carried out routinely.
The clampdown would come after importers and retailers were given a March cut-off time to get rid of their old stocks.
After then, they were supposed to purchase the special stamps which are affixed to the cork area.
Smuggling of cigarettes and alcohol is big business in Guyana. It is worth almost $2B annually.
GRA wants its taxes.
However, smuggling and a ready market have been presenting an uphill battle for GRA.
Under regulations, GRA can slap guilty drinking spots with fines up to three times the value of the seized liquor with charges and seizure after three occasions.
GRA would be battling a country-wide problem with a ready supply from neighbouring Suriname.
Many of the night-spots with a thirsty clientele have a ready market for especially whisky and the vodkas. GRA is now setting to deal also with cigarette smuggling.
All packets have to be affixed with stamps after November 1, following notification by GRA earlier this year.
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