Men pretending to be GRA agents seized imported liquor

– demanded $125,000 not to prosecute

A 67-year-old caretaker of Amazon Delight located at Regent and Oronoque Streets, Georgetown was allegedly scammed of almost $300,000 in imported liquor and cash from two men pretending to be officials of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA).
“Aunty Seeta” told Guyana Times that the men turned up at the business place about 10:00h, fully dressed and carrying badges with the GRA logo.
“They said GRA sent them to seize the imported liquor because she didn’t have their [GRA] stamp on it,” she explained.
This publication understands that GRA’s Customs, Excise and Trade Operations (CE&TO) has made mandatory the application of Excise Stamps on imported alcohol (excluding beer) and tobacco products.
As such, importers, businesses and persons selling alcohol and tobacco products are expected to have these stamps on their products to verify that the items were

legally imported into Guyana.
According to “Seeta”, she was ordered to turn over $150,000 in imported liquor— namely, tequila, whiskey, Black Hennessy, Ciroc, Grey Goose, Apple Smirnoff and Vanilla Smirnoff.
Moreover, the men advised her that if she did not want to face criminal charges, she should pay them $125,000. The woman said that she complied.
However, after the men left, the distraught woman said she began to feel sceptical about the way in which the men operated. As such, she reportedly contacted the GRA office on Wednesday and reported the matter.
However, she was then informed that the entity did not order the seizure of items belonging to the establishment. It was then that the pensioner realised she had been conned.
“I called 911 and they took a statement from me and the person on the other end of the line told me to report the matter to the Alberttown Police Station,” the woman explained.
The woman has been taking care of the business for the past 14 years and according to her, this is the first time she has been conned. Both the GRA and the Guyana Police Force have launched an investigation into the matter.