Ghanaian Shipping Vessel Grounded in Liberia over Smuggled Goods

A shipping vessel reportedly belonging to Ghana has been intercepted in Liberia for transporting smuggled goods.

The vessel was impounded at the Buchanan port, Grand Bassa County by the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA).

Arresting authorities said they found 290 cartons of liquor, 221 cartons of Faxe 10% and 70 cartons of Origin and assorted mining machines and other equipment in the vessel which arrived in Liberia around midnight of February 18, 2020.

 “Goods are smuggled with the intent of escaping tax payment, and if the vessel were not arrested, those who possess the goods would not have paid the taxes due to the government. To establish the actual amount in taxes, the LRA joint security has been called to assist in investigating the incident to establish the actual amount of taxes that would go to the government,” that LRA’s Senior Collector at the port, Vickie Wilson is quoted as saying.

Officials of the revenue authority said that the goods belonged to Liberians who bought them from Ghana and paid the required taxes on them in Ghana but they hired the Ghanaian-owned vessel to smuggle them to Liberia, with the intent of evading taxes.

“The vessel and goods are currently in the custody of the LRA, pending an investigation and, depending on the outcome of the investigation, owners are expected to face penalties in keeping with the revenue laws,” the LRA officials said.

The name of the vessel and its owners are not immediately known. But Liberian authorities have assured that they will face punishment.