Vehicle smuggling via Lethem crossing an ongoing challenge – GRA Head

Notwithstanding the progress that has been made in tackling smuggling over the years, vehicle smuggling remains a challenge the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) is doing its utmost to confront.
On Tuesday, GRA Commissioner General Godfrey Statia was asked about illegal vehicles in Guyana when he appeared before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC). The Auditor General report of 2019, which the PAC is currently examining, had listed as much as 195 vehicle-related seizures for that year. Illegal vehicles entering Guyana continues to be a problem, according to the Commissioner General.
“We continually work to lessen that. But, for instance, it was two to three weeks ago, we found a vehicle that was smuggled through Lethem with Brazilian number plates, in Georgetown with Guyanese number plates.”
“And we also found not only Lethem, but that also happens from Suriname. So all we can do is keep a record of all the vehicles that are in Guyana, based on whether they come through the borders,” Statia also said.
In particular, however, Statia identified the Lethem, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) border as a problem. He noted that once vehicles do not use legal border crossings, they become harder to track. However, the GRA is doing its utmost to address the issue.
There are some instances, he said, where vehicles come into Guyana with legal number plates, but they may have been stolen in Brazil. Even when this happens, however, Statia explained that the GRA is sometimes able to identify these vehicles.
The GRA has always made it clear that a zero-tolerance approach is being adopted against smuggling and any form of tax evasion; and, as such, offenders may face penalties as stipulated under the laws, inclusive of prosecution.
It has also issued warnings over the use of unregistered vehicles and the misuse of trade plates on vehicles traversing the country’s roadway. There are laws governing the use of unregistered vehicles and trade plates and failure to comply will result in the tax regulatory body and the Guyana Police Force (GPF) taking action.
In notices published in the media, the GRA noted that it has observed with concern the increase in the number of unregistered motor vehicles traversing the public roadways. It has reminded importers, investors, and owners of unregistered vehicles of the terms and conditions of the release of these vehicles from the city wharves, which restrict their use until after registration.
Persons have 14 days to take corrective actions and engage the customs, excise, and trade operations and licence revenue office to have those motor vehicles duly entered and registered.
Failure to comply will result in GRA and the Police collaborating to have such vehicles detained.
Regarding the use of trade plates, GRA noted further that it continues to observe with great concern, the number of motor vehicles affixed with trade plates that are using public roadways.
In some cases, the tax agency said that motor vehicles can be seen affixed with the same trade plate number assigned to a particular auto dealer.
In light of this, it had reminded in a notice earlier this year that trade plates are mainly intended for movement of vehicles cleared from the wharves, to move to premises, and to facilitate registration.
According to GRA, the use of these plates is restricted to weekdays—Monday to Friday from 06:00h (6 am) to 18:00h (6 pm) – and must not operate on weekends or public holidays. Further, it stressed that the use of trade plates beyond official hours and for an excessive amount of time is an offence. (G3)