Customs Enforcement on Monday night found 15 boxes of firecrackers in a car in Berbice and the items were seized while the vehicle was detained and the driver placed on bail.

Against that background the Guyana Reve-nue Authority (GRA) is reminding the general public that the importation, sale and purchase of firecrackers and other explosives are illegal under the Second Schedule, Parts 1 and 2 of the Customs Act amended by Act No.1 of 2005.

The GRA in a press release yesterday noted that the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) is the only agency authorized to import firecrackers and other explosives and permission must be sought from the Commissioner of Police for the importation of such items.

The release stated further that, “The enforcement arm of the GRA has an ongoing exercise aimed at monitoring the activities at ports and borders countrywide and persons found smuggling goods into the country will be prosecuted under Section 217 and 218 of the Customs Act.”

According to the GRA, the liable penalty stipulated is payment treble the value of the goods or a fine of $10,000 or imprisonment of one to three years. The GRA added that this penalty is also applicable to persons found selling and/or purchasing firecrackers since they are restricted items.

Meanwhile, the GRA is calling on members of the public with knowledge of persons smuggling firecrackers and other items to report such cases immediately to the Assistant Commissioner, Regional Offices, Customs & Trade Administration, on telephone numbers 225 6931-7 or the Director, Enforcement on telephone number 226 2060.