Foodstuffs And Cigarettes Smuggling Will No Longer Be Tolerated By The Government

Under the Unified Customs Law No. 10 of 2003 for Gulf Cooperation Council member states and based on Minister of Finance Decision No. 30 of 2003 regarding Customs data and regulations, the General Administration of Customs has issued guidelines on how to deal with seizure reports filed in cases of smuggling cigarettes, derivatives and food items at all customs ports.

Smuggled cigarettes and food supplies are dealt with in the following ways by customs regulations printed in Kuwait's Official Gazette Kuwait Al-Yawm (a copy of which Al-Anba obtained):

First: In cases of seizures due to smuggling of tobacco products, their derivatives, and food supplies, seizure reports are issued by all customs ports. Following is the process that violators or their representatives and agents must follow:
1- According to Articles 148/151/A - 168 of the Unified Customs Law, smuggled cigarettes and their derivatives are subject to a fine of twice the value of the seized items..
2- Under the provisions of Article 148 and 151/a of the Unified Customs Law, a fine of twice the value of the smuggled goods will be imposed and confiscated.
3- To inform the Legal Affairs Department of any seizure incident within 72 hours from the date of the seizure report, a copy of the report must be provided.

Second: In the absence of the Director of the Documentation Administration, or whomever he delegates to enforce the aforementioned fines with reconciliation in regard to whom the seizure report is issued, the Director-General of Customs is authorized to impose the fines.

Third: At the time of the incident, if the person complained, the matter is referred to the Department of Legal Affairs for further review, and a report is sent to the Director-General of Customs.

Fourth: Should the violator or his representative fail to pay the fine within 15 days from the date on which the fine was imposed, the matter would be referred to the Department of Social Affairs.

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