A joint operation by Fiji Revenue and Customs Service, Fiji Police, Biosecurity Authority of Fiji and Health Department led to seizure of 13 bars of Cocaine weighing 15 Kilograms and Ecstasy tablets with an estimated value of USD$10 – 15 million.

The yacht searched by Customs and other Border Law Enforcement Agencies at Denarau Port this afternoon came from Borabora, French Polynesia. 

It is also confirmed that US$15,000.00 undeclared currency, guns and ammunitions have been detained from the yacht.

“I applaud the collaboration and efforts of our officers in successfully intercepting illicit drugs, undeclared currency and weapons,” Revenue and Customs Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Visvanath Das said.

 “This seizure is a testament of our commitment to protect our borders and ensuring our country is safe,” Mr. Das said.

“Let this be a reminder to those planning to use Fiji to carry out such illicit trade,” he added.

“The collaboration between stakeholders continues to strengthen and the seizure is a testament of this,” Acting Commissioner of Police Rusiate Tudravu said.

“We are not going to allow anyone to think they can come in and out of our borders and use it as a transit point or a destination to execute their illegal dealings and this should send a strong warning to others that we have a close eye on our borders,” he said.

The yacht has been seized and will be forfeited to the State. Four crew members are now in Police Custody.

Police investigations continue.

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The Chief Executive Officer of Fiji Revenue & Customs Service (FRCS), Mr Visvanath Das and the Director of Fiji Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) Mr Razim Buksh met this week and discussed opportunities to further strengthen tax and customs compliance and fraud investigations. They discussed the need for stronger collaboration and networking between the two agencies in relation to profiling of suspected tax evaders, investigation of trade-based money laundering involving incorrect declaration of the value of goods, and related financial crimes.

Mr Buksh said that in 2017, the FIU issued 317 intelligence case dissemination reports involving $220 million to the FRCS for suspected tax crimes (tax evasion, duty evasions, and customs related violations), money laundering activities and other fraudulent and financial crimes. Mr Buksh further said that FRCS was the largest beneficiary of FIU’s intelligence representing more than 70 percent of its proactive “whistle-blower” reports. In 2017, FIU information was used by FRCS to investigate an additional 1,279 individuals and businesses involved in tax and customs violation cases.

Mr Visvanath Das said that FIU referral reports play an important role in uncovering fraudulent acts where businesses are not paying its fair share taxes. The various disseminated reports from FIU are analysed and further referred to the respective teams for a full Audit and Investigation to commence. In 2017, total tax and penalties assessed as a result of the various FIU referrals amounts to $6.6 million whereby 21 percent of it were assessed to businesses dealing in the wholesale and retail of Motor Vehicles.

Mr Das said that FRCS and the FIU have built a strong partnership on information exchange and capacity building. Currently two FRCS officers are based with the FIU on a fulltime secondment.

Both agencies have acknowledged that while the overall culture of tax compliance in Fiji is improving, authorities will come down hard on dishonest individuals and businesses that violate their tax obligations.

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The Fiji Revenue and Customs Service wishes to kindly remind our VMS Phase 2 business customers that the deadline to implement an electronic fiscal device system (more commonly known as VAT Monitoring System) is 30th June 2018.

Phase 2 group of businesses include Hardware Companies, Accounting Firms, Medical Centers, Travel Agencies and Law Firms.

“We are in the implementation stage of this project as most of the businesses in Phase 1 have been fiscalised or are in the process of doing so. Customers shopping at supermarkets and pharmacies which have been fiscalised, should receive the new fiscalised receipts which has a QR code allowing the receipt to be scanned and verified. We urge customers to scan and verify their receipts using the FRCS Receipt Verificator app. You can download the app on your smartphone. It is free of charge and available on Google Play or Apple Store,” Chief Executive Officer Mr. Visvanath Das said.

“Those businesses that do not currently fall within either group are also welcome to come on board earlier, if they have appropriate systems in place and wish to do so. It is gradually coming for all business groups anyway,” Mr. Das said.

A free Point of Sale (POS) application is also made available by FRCS and is compatible with smart phones and tablets (Android and IOS phones) and can be used by small businesses. However, the functions of the application is limited to VMS compliance and no other accounting needs of businesses. This is only ideal for small businesses.

The VAT Monitoring System (VMS) was launched in 2017 and to date the Revenue and Customs has accredited 13 POS systems and external sale devices. Tech 360 (Fiji) Ltd is the latest vendor to join the list of accredited suppliers, with the supply of Ideal POS 7.

The full details of these suppliers can be downloaded from our website https://www.frcs.org.fj/our-services/vat-monitoring-system-vms/accredited-pos-esdc/.

Businesses who need assistance with becoming compliant can refer to the Step by Step Instruction Guide which is also available on our website.

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The Fiji Revenue and Customs Service wishes to advise members of the public and businesses that they can now update their tax information with us, through our online portal – MyInfo.

Our valued customers can access this online portal through our website: www.frcs.org.fj. The MyInfo portal captures details like your current residential address, phone numbers, email address, nature of your business (if any) and bank account information.

“The MyInfo portal has been developed to allow taxpayers the convenience of registering and updating their tax information online. You will need a Joint ID card to register for this service and taxpayers can visit any of our offices to apply for one,” Chief Executive Officer Mr. Visvanath Das said.

“This initiative is undertaken in line with our strategy to modernize processes and systems and make it easy for our customers to access their information and interact with us. The implementation of the new tax information system will make this a reality. We expect to launch the new system by the end of 2019. Your information must be up to date for this transition to be successful. This in turn will help us serve you better,” Mr. Das stressed.

“Our officers are also distributing “Information Update” forms to those taxpayers who do not have access to the Internet. All they have to do is to fill the form and return it to any Revenue and Customs office”.

We encourage all taxpayers to use this free service and update their information online or visit our Customer Service Centres across Fiji for assistance.

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The Fiji Revenue and Customs Service (Revenue & Customs) rolled out Fiji’s first Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) Pilot launch this morning. This initiative is about global supply chain security and trade facilitation under the World Trade Organisation Trade Facilitation Agreement.

The seven AEO Pilot members are Biscuit Company of Fiji Limited, Central Manufacturing Company Limited, Hard Rock Café (Fiji) Limited, KIA Motors Limited, Natural Waters of Viti Limited, Victus Limited t/a Burger King and Vodafone (Fiji) Limited.

Chief Guest, Revenue and Customs Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Visvanath Das announced the names of these seven members at the Revenue & Customs Complex in Nasese.

“This is indeed a great milestone achievement for Fiji Revenue and Customs Service to implement the AEO framework with you and of course our partnership engagement is fruitful to achieve this milestone,” Mr. Das said while welcoming the members.

“High trade volumes makes it difficult for Customs administrations to examine and verify each and every package going out of country or coming in. The AEO programme guidelines and procedures ensures the security and safety of the country or region through regularizing the flow of goods,” he added.

Mr. Das said the AEO programme will provide members international recognition of their commitment for secure trade.

The programme is also an expansion of the existing Gold Card initiative into the international market through a framework of standards to Secure and Facilitate Global Trade (SAFE Framework) of the World Customs Organisation.

Benefits for AEO members include measures to expedite cargo release, reduce transit time and lower storage costs, providing access to information of value to AEO participants, special measures relating to periods of trade disruption or elevated threat level and first consideration for participation in any cargo processing programmes.

Mr. Das also welcomed new and existing partners: Air Terminal Services, Biosecurity Authority Fiji, Civil Aviation Authority of Fiji, Department of Immigration, Fiji Airways, Fiji Ports Corporation Limited, Ministry of Health, Lands Transport Authority, Ports Terminal Limited and Fiji Airports Limited and thanked them for their critical partnership for success of these national initiatives.

“AEO members will be eligible for privilege services at any port of entry,” he said.

The AEO programme will be officially launched on 25^th January, 2019.

A team of six (6) officials from the Korea Customs Service are in the country to enhance collaboration efforts and hold discussions modernizing the Fiji Customs administration.

Revenue and Customs Service Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Visvanath Das said Revenue and Customs is committed to strengthening administration of Customs laws and procedures and processes.

“We are committed to reforming and modernizing our Customs projects and regulatory framework to ensure a well-functioning and efficient Customs administration,” Mr. Das said. 

“Our aim is to ensure that Customs procedures are in line with international standards and recommended practice under the World Trade Organization Trade Facilitation Agreement that has been ratified by Fiji” he said.

“We are grateful to have Korea Customs experts in the country to assist us under the principles of World Customs Organization Mutual Administrative Assistance. As a developed country, Korea Customs Service has one of the best practices in the globe in terms of their Customs Administration and we are fortunate to be learning from the best to improve our Customs processes and procedures,” Mr. Das said.

“The partnership with Korean Customs Service will allow for close dialogue in order to implement recommendations from these experts,” he added.

Korean Customs Service Project Manager, Mr. Sun Man Kim said the team will conduct site visits and meet with the Fiji Customs administration stakeholders and enforcement teams while they are here.

“We will be looking at the legal framework, process and Information Technology (IT) system and infrastructure. At the same time, we will conduct our site visit to Suva seaport and Nadi airport and with the private sector including an airline company, sea freight forwarders and the trading community,” Mr. Kim said.

The team will be here for three weeks.

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The Fiji Revenue and Customs Service (Revenue and Customs) is calling for the public to take heed of individuals who are taking another shot at impersonating Revenue & Customs Service Officers for the purpose of personal and financial gain.  

In this new development, a case of cybercrime has emerged whereby a Revenue and Customs email address was created to email an audit notice to a business taxpayer.

“A business taxpayer received an email titled Audit Notice from a fake Revenue and Customs email account. Firstly, we do not send such notices through emails but rather it is a formal letter on our letterhead. So it was easy to identify that this was a case of impersonation,” Revenue and Customs Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Visvanath Das said.

“This is not the first time a Revenue and Customs Officer has been impersonated. In this modern age and easy access to technology, it is dreadful to see the abuse of such capabilities for criminal purposes,” Mr. Das said.

“We encourage taxpayers to immediately contact us to verify if they feel any suspicions. If any communication comes through and indicates any form of settlement or resolution outside of law, it should immediately trigger suspicion and must be reported,” he said.

One must be mindful that it is a serious offence under the Crimes Act to impersonate a Revenue and Customs Service Officer by whatever means.

“Impersonating a Revenue & Customs Officer is an offence under the Crimes Act 2009 with a maximum penalty of 3 years imprisonment. The matter will be referred to Fiji Police for further investigations,” Mr. Das stressed.

“We are requesting members of the public to be vigilant and not engage in business over emails, phone calls or reveal tax information before verifying the identity of the Revenue & Customs officer. Our official email is info@frcs.org.fj. If you are not sure, call us on 324 3000 or on our hotline 1326,” he said.

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