Police and custom officers had seized undeclared jewellery with a revenue value of TOP$230,000 including other items on Saturday 11 in Halaleva.
Cash and cheque of over TOP$6,500, herbal medications, electronic devices, one fiream and 1480 ammunition were among the confiscated goods.
Tonga Customs and Revenue boss ʻAnisi Kulufeinga Bloomfield said more than 50 Customs, Inland Revenue and Police officers raided a Chinese property and business in the area at 8am
A statement from the Ministry says:
The Tonga Customs initiated this operation code named: Operation Sparkling in responding to mounted intelligence and investigation.
These jewellery items including 9 – 22 carat gold jewellery, diamonds and pearls were located at the dwelling house with price tags varied from TOP$100 – TOP$1600.
It is alleged that these uncustomed items are to be of Asian origin and were smuggled into country through passengers of commercial flights without declaring at the border.
These items were smuggled into Tonga to be further traded in his licensed premises.
The total value of these jewellery items are over TOP$230,000. The total duty evaded by this company is approximately TOP$80,000.
This business has been operating for more than 6 years but has no Customs records of imports of jewellery by the business or its owners.
The Tonga Customs has vested interest in this situation as these jewellery items were being sold as imported goods and offered for commercial exchange at comparable prices without any payment of duties or taxes.
Bloomfield said that he is impressed with robust and collaboration efforts of the core law enforcement agencies in sharing resources and capabilities. He is determined to strengthen their cooperation.
The Tonga Customs in partnership with Tax Authorities and Tonga Police are continuing in their enforcement efforts to investigate entities who continue to breach the Customs laws across the islands of Tonga.
