The Fiji Revenue and Customs Service (FRCS) wishes to remind operators of foreign fishing vessels to understand and comply with the entry requirements of Fiji. FRCS will have zero tolerance for illegal activities detected at the Fijian borders. 

This reminder follows detection of smuggled alcohol and cigarettes by FRCS Officers during our monitoring process whereby search and examination of fishing vessels are conducted. 

FRCS works closely with other border protection agencies in Fiji including the Fiji Immigration Department, the Biosecurity Authority of Fiji (BAF), the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MOHMS), the Fiji Police Force and the Fiji Navy to prevent illegal activities and safeguard the borders of Fiji. 

From 12 to 14 October 2021, FRCS conducted targeted searches on two foreign fishing vessels and discovered smuggled bottles of alcohol and packets of cigarettes concealed at various locations on the vessel. The smuggled goods worth approximately FJ$3,647 were detained by FRCS. Smuggling of alcohol and cigarettes on foreign fishing vessels is a re-occurring issue and to deter smuggling, FRCS has been profiling vessels and aircrafts for restricted and prohibited goods traded to or from Fiji. 

Our efforts to daunt illegal activities of foreign fishing vessels has been boosted through information received by the Fiji Navy, which has helped FRCS conduct random searches on 58 vessels from 2020 to date. During these searches, our team had found cigarettes and alcohol which were not declared. 

FRCS and other border protection agencies in Fiji is engaging with the authorised foreign fishing vessel agents to educate them on the risks of smuggling goods into Fiji. 

Our message to foreign fishing vessel operators found smuggling is simple. We will intercept you and you will face full force of the law. FRCS has zero tolerance for such illegal activities. 

FRCS MEDIA CONTACT 

For all media enquires 

 Email: publicrelations@frcs.org.fj 

 Phone: (679) 3243035. 

Fiji’s border protection will be further enhanced with the introduction of new trace detection device at our international borders provided by the New Zealand Government.

A short ceremony was held at the FRCS Office in Nadi to acknowledge this assistance from the New Zealand Government. New Zealand High Commissioner to Fiji, His Excellency Mr. Jonathan Curr and his team attended the ceremony virtually, while the Fiji Revenue and Customs Service (FRCS) Deputy Board Chair Mr. Mahmood Khan, Board Member Ms. Lala Sowane and Fiji Airways Managing Director and CEO Andre Viljoen were at the FRCS Office.  

While acknowledging the valuable support from the New Zealand Government, Mr. Khan stated that the assistance was a timely boost for Fiji’s border security system as Fiji prepared for re-opening of its international borders.

Mr. Khan further added that trace detection screening was increasingly common in international airports worldwide and with the introduction of this in Fiji, FRCS was further enhancing its ability to manage potential risks of illicit goods being brought into the country.   

The trace detection device will support FRCS to conduct risk assessment of cargo and passengers more effectively and will enable the Customs Officers to mitigate and identify illicit material on high risk cargo and passenger for intervention at the entry and exit points. Furthermore, it will help deter drug trafficking, transnational organized crime and ensure facilitation of legitimate trade.

The units, worth NZD$30,000 with additional consumable kits worth approximately NZD$3,000, was coordinated through the New Zealand High Commission in Fiji alongside New Zealand Customs Service (NZCS) and Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand (CAANZ)and New Zealand Aviation Security Service.

 “NZ Customs is pleased that we were able to support a key partner in keeping Fiji and the Pacific region safe. New Zealand has strong historic links to the region and by contributing to the protection of Fiji’s borders, we remain connected with our Pacific neighbours. The region is important to us and we look forward to continuing our close relationship in the future,” Michael Blades, Director International at New Zealand Customs Service said.

Fiji Airways also welcomed the provision of four ETD units for use at the airline’s various facilities. Managing Director and CEO Andre Viljoen said: “This support from CAA-NZ and AVSEC NZ is extremely timely, given the reopening of Fiji’s borders for tourism on 1st December and the anticipated influx of people travelling to and out of Fiji. Enhanced regional aviation security is everyone’s business and in everyone’s interest, and Fiji Airways is delighted to be a part of this commitment.”

Through this assistance, New Zealand and Fiji’s international law enforcement cooperation and Customs to Customs partnership and Coordinated Border Management has been further strengthened.

Ends.

For further information, please contact on 1326 or email on publicrelations@frcs.org.fj.

The Fiji Revenue and Customs Service (FRCS), wishes to announce the resignation of its Acting Chief Executive Officer Mr. Jonetani Vuto to be effective as of September 17, 2021. In the interim, FRCS Board Chair, Ms. Fay Yee, has been appointed as the Executive Chair by the Minister for Economy.

“The Board acknowledges the contribution that Mr. Vuto has made during his term as Acting ACEO since January 2021 and wishes him well as he pursues his personal ambitions,” stated Ms. Yee.

Mr. Vuto has thanked the Government, FRCS Board, stakeholders and the team at FRCS for their support during his term as Acting CEO.

“It has been a privilege to be part of FRCS over the past thirty-one years and it has been an honor to have led the organization with the support of the Board and the team to serve the people of Fiji,” said Mr. Vuto.

For further information, please contact on 3243000 or email on publicrelations@frcs.org.fj.

The Fiji Revenue and Customs Service (FRCS) would like to notify members of the public to exercise extreme caution and vigilance when receiving and responding to unsolicited emails informing them that they have won money from the World Bank and need to pay tax clearance before the prize is sent to them.

FRCS is issuing this alert after cases were brought to our attention whereby Fijians were sent emails from the fijirevenuecustomservice@gmail.com account informing recipients of winning money from the World Bank, which is held by the Fiji Government, and requesting them to pay tax clearance in order to receive their prize.

The email also claimed that FRCS was working under the World Bank and insisted that the tax clearance payment be made online to the account provided by the sender. This is despite the recipient’s request to make payments at FRCS Office.

FRCS would like to advise people that the email address fijirevenuecustomservice@gmail.com is not used by FRCS. The Tax Service does not use Gmail accounts or any other email platform to send official emails. All official emails from FRCS will have ‘@frcs.org.fj’ in its email addresses.

Furthermore, FRCS would also like to clarify that we are a statutory organisation and do not fall under the World Bank.

We would like to request people not to fall victim to such fraudulent schemes and lose their money to the perpetrators of such scams. If people receive such an email, they should contact FRCS on our hotline number 1326 or email us at info@frcs.org.fj for verification before making any payments.

FRCS is concerned that despite numerous awareness on various types of scams using FRCS to dupe people, members of the public continue to become susceptible to such frauds and lose their hard earned money to swindlers.

It is important for people to be aware of the scams happening and always contact FRCS to clarify and verify information that they are unsure of.

Members of the public can also report to the Fiji Police Force or the Consumer Council of such scams.

For further information, please mail on publicrelations@frcs.org.fj.

The Fiji Revenue and Customs Service (FRCS) has signed an agreement with the Australian-funded Market Development Facility to support the digitalization of the clearance system for Fiji’s yachting industry.

The online portal, which will be designed by FRCS, builds on its existing Automated Systems of Customs Data(ASYCUDA) infrastructure and aims to bolster the Fijian Government’s ‘Blue Lanes’ initiative.

Once complete, the portal will facilitate the timely yachting clearance and information coordination with relevant agencies, including compliance with all Covid-19 safety protocols that have been put in place.

According to FRCS, the new partnership with the Market Development Facility (MDF), fills a vital role in facilitating industry consultation during the critical development and testing stages for the new portal.

The new integrated system will allow key yachting stakeholders, including marinas, yachting agents, border and government agencies to access timely and accurate information in one place.

In order to develop a portal that is robust and relevant, we will need the input of all these key stakeholders. We are very grateful to the Australian Government through MDF, for supporting us in these efforts.

Under the new agreement, MDF will also provide technical and marketing support to FRCS, including the development of an instructional video on how to navigate the portal, compliance with FRCS requirements, and an awareness campaign for the yachting sector.

“The portal development was a key recommendation of the 2018 Economic Impact of International Yachting in Fiji Report to help strengthen Fiji’s reputation as a regional yachting destination and it is even more relevant now given the success of Fiji’s ‘Blue Lanes’. We are glad to work with FRCS to support this initiative and subsequently the recovery efforts and growth of Fiji’s tourism industry,” said MDF Country Director, Malcolm Bossley.

According to the 2018 Economic Impact of International Yachting in Fiji Report, the yachting industry contributed approximately FJD60 million annually to the Fiji economy.

With the closure of international borders due to COVID-19 and the suspension of commercial air travel to Fiji, yachting has now become the key means of tourism revenue and employment for the country. Under the Blue Lanes, over 100 yachts visited Fiji in 2020.

For further information, please email publicrelations@frcs.org.fj or bilitaki.lovo@thepalladiumgroup.com or call mobile 777 2063.

Australia has contributed over $100,000 worth of IT equipment to support Fiji Revenue and Customs Service (FRCS) with their sea and air cargo targeting capabilities. The IT equipment delivered this week will significantly enhance the connectivity between risks systems as well as support Fiji’s ability to analyze large trade data sets to identify high-risk consignments.

Through the delivery of this equipment, Fiji plans to establish modern targeting and profiling capabilities to minimise the use of cargo and other means of transportation for drug trafficking, transnational organized criminal activities and other forms of illegal trade to ensure facilitation of legitimate trade and promote secured global trade supply chain.

This funding has been made available through the Border Security Assistance Package as part of the Fiji-Australia Vuvale partnership.

Since the launch of the United Nations Office on Drug and Crime (UNODC) and World Customs Organization (WCO) Container Control Program (CCP) in August 2020, Australian representatives in Fiji have worked with FRCS to build an IT infrastructure that supports the targeting and profiling efforts of the FRCS National Border Cargo Targeting Centre (NBCTC). 

FRCS acknowledges the valuable support from the Australian Government through the Australian Border Force (ABF).

The modern technology and equipment will provide FRCS the ability to profile and target sea and air cargo shipments for the risk of illicit trade and revenue frauds. The officers seconded to these units are supported with mentoring sessions and training conducted through the WCO-UNODC Container Control Program which is sponsored by the Australia Border Force.

Australia recognizes that as a central hub for the movement of people and cargo through the Pacific, Fiji plays a fundamental role in the movement of sea and air cargo across the Pacific region.

The operations of these units are centered around the virtual border and the IT equipment donated by the Australian government will greatly enhance the capability of these units in having real-time access to advance critical cargo information and systems. Since the establishment of these units, there have been over 50 successful interceptions, including methamphetamine, weapons, cargo of environmental risk, illicit medicines and other border security related elements. Furthermore, there has been an increase in the number of detections related to revenue evasion, leading to financial penalties that support Fiji’s economy. 

With our pre-screening capabilities, and this donation, our capability to detect, dismantle and disrupt illicit importation and organized crime syndicates is enhanced and we can support legitimate trade to help Fiji grow. Our Customs to Customs partnership today has been strengthened with this collaboration and serves to promote Coordinated Border Management.  

For further information, please contact on 1326 or email on publicrelations@frcs.org.fj.

The Fiji Revenue and Customs Service (FRCS) would like to alert members of the public on the fake Facebook and WhatsApp messages requesting payments to clear Customs charges before their goods are released. 

FRCS is concerned that despite numerous awareness on this issue, people are still continuing to become susceptible to such scams and are losing thousands of dollars in the process.

Information gathered by FRCS revealed that a number of Fijians are being tricked through fake Facebook, WhatsApp and Messenger requests advising them that the goods they have imported were being held by Customs and that they need to pay customs clearance fees into numerous local bank accounts that are being provided by the scammers through social media. 

This money is then withdrawn from bank accounts by swindlers and remitted through the post office to their partners.  

FRCS would like to clarify that payment for customs clearance is only done at FRCS counters and through the FRCS bank account. FRCS will never ask anyone through Facebook, WhatsApp and Messenger to make payments. If people receive such requests, they should call FRCS Hotline number 1326 or email us at info@frcs.org.fj for verification before remitting the funds.  

Members of the public and social media users need to be vigilant and avoid not becoming prey to such type of fraudulent activities. It is important for people to be aware of the scam activities that are happening. 

FRCS is advising people to verify with FRCS when they receive any requests for customs payments through Facebook or WhatsApp before making any payments. They can report to the Fiji Police Force or the Consumer Council of this scam.  Also, if people receive calls that their goods have arrived and they don’t know the person calling, they should request the Bill of lading /Airway bill copy or reference number and check with FRCS-Customs Division if the goods have arrived before paying the customs duty as requested by the caller.  

For further information, please contact on 1326 or email on publicrelations@frcs.org.fj.