Customs detains containers of wheat in Berbice

Customs in Berbice on Saturday detained four containers of wheat that were being shipped to Suriname but for which the shippers did not have the original documents and provided incorrect information.

According to information reaching this newspaper, the four 20-feet containers were held after the shipper turned up with only copies of the original documents. Moreover, a source said, on the forms the country of origin of the wheat was listed as Canada and it should have been listed as a re-export. However, the documents listed the product under a regime that says it was produced in Guyana and therefore under CARICOM’s Rules of Origin pact, it would not attract certain duties when it landed in Suriname.

This newspaper was told that the invoice showed that the wheat was purchased from Namilco. Officers became suspicious after noting the incorrect information and the containers were ordered detained.