Police seize smuggled alcohol

A man is expected to be arraigned today to be charged with possession of smuggled alcoholic drinks.

Close to 400 bottles of alcohol, on which excise duty had not been paid, were allegedly seized by the Economic Crimes Unit and Customs officers during a raid at Marsa on Monday evening.

The Customs Department said the raid was concentrated on two vans, which are used by a vendor of vegetables and other products.

It said the haul consisted of 361 70cl bottles of JB Whisky, four 1 litre bottles of Campari and seven 1 litre bottles of Bacardi.

The van in which the smuggled bottles were allegedly found, was confiscated.

The police held a man for questioning in connection with the find.

Comments

Joseph stafrace (1 week, 1 day ago)

Mr. Galea Further to the explanation below. Bona fede Importers of Excise goods can opt to register as a registered warehouse keeper i.e. importers can import goods subject to Excise Duty, enter same into a registered warehouse and pay Excise Duty at time of release.

L Galea (1 week, 1 day ago)

Thanks for the info Mr Stafrace.

joseph stafrace (1 week, 1 day ago)

Mr. Galea,
I am afraid you are wrong on this one, Excise duty is levied on alcohol and cigarettes at the point of entry of every country whether it is an E.U. or a third country. All importers of Excise Goods have to be registered with Customs and their details are entered into a Data Base restricted to Customs Agencies throughout the E.U. In this way bona fede importers are only taxed at the point of entry of their respective country.

L Galea (1 week, 2 days ago)

Is there not supposed to be the freedom of movement of goods between EU member states?

Does not the imposition of any customs or excise duty go contrary to the freedom of movement of goods according to EU regulations?

Are the Maltese authorities imposing any customs or excise duty on goods from other EU member states?

Clarification is certainly needed.