The customs and excise division today attended the police commissioner's weekly media conference to discuss upcoming operations designed to tackle illegal activities at the Point Cruz Harbor.
Mrs. Sarah Wickham from the Customs Division said that the upcoming operations was due to the illegal actions of foreign ship crews and shore based individuals, "they trade and deal with members of the public illegally...we need to control the movement of these people and the goods that they exchange," she said.Senior Team Leader of the Customs Division, Mrs. Alison Boso, stated that this has been an ongoing concern for them "so from now on, as part of the operations, small crafts of any kind would no longer be allowed to go within 30 meters of any foreign vessels without a valid permit."
Mrs. Boso said that anyone who fails to comply would have his or her small craft forfeited and faces a hefty fine. "There should also be no selling or exchanging of goods and other dutiable goods to the public, without the authority from customs," she mentioned.
Meanwhile, all shipping agents have been advised to ensure that all foreign vessels comply with these new requirements.