AN AMERICAN citizen, Al Cornell Reid, recently pleaded guilty to breaches of the Customs Act in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court, according to a press release from the Tax Admins-tration Services Department.
The press release noted that Mr. Reid who arrived in Jamaica on December 21, 2004 for a three-week vacation had stated on the Customs Declaration Form (C5) that he was not carrying any currency or monetary instrument in excess of US$10,000 (J$620,000) or its equivalent.
An inspection of his luggage was carried out by Customs officers and eight bottles of baby powder were found, each filled with approximately US$10,000. In total, US$85,000 (J$5.2 million) was found in the luggage. In addition, two amplifiers and five telephones were discovered. The telephones were valued at J$79,000 with applicable duty of J$58,170.
RECEIVED BOTTLES FROM A FRIEND
When first questioned by the authorities Mr. Reid denied knowledge of the contents of the bottles. He stated that he received the bottles from a friend known only as 'Trevor' who had in turn been given the bottles by another person. Mr. Reid stated that he was to pass the bottles on to someone in Jamaica. However, he was unable to supply an address or telephone number for his friend 'Trevor' or the person who was to receive the goods.
FINED
Mr. Reid was sentenced to pay a fine of $400,000 or three months imprisonment, and the money found was forfeited to the Customs Depart-ment, which was represented by the deputy commissioner, Legal Services Division (Tax Administration Services Department), Kathy-Ann Pyke.
According to the Customs Act, where a person disembarking from a plane or ship falsely deny or refuse to answer questions regarding the possession of goods when questioned by a Customs officer; if he/she is found in possession of such goods, the goods are automatically forfeited.
The Customs Act also stipulates that where an individual has been found to be in breach of any of its provisions providing for forfeiture, he/she is liable to be prosecuted and upon conviction may be ordered to pay a penalty of up to three times the value of the goods.
The case was presided over by Her Honour Ms. Winsome Henry.
