No second chance
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IN There will be "no second chances" for serious alcohol and cigarette smugglers, with culprits facing the immediate confiscation of light vehicles.
Van and pickup users caught with contraband on board face losing their vehicles at the first offence as Customs tightens up to stem the /2.5bn of revenue lost each year to smugglers. Customs will keep the vehicle and the monetary value of the excess when the total revenue evaded exceeds the value of the vehicle.
if the evaded amount is less than the vehicle's trade-in value, first-time smugglers will be charged the full amount of the revenue evaded and the vehicle will be offered back to them, The policy was previously to return the vehicle to all firsttime offenders for a fee equal to 100% of the revenue evaded or the trade-in value of the vehicle, whichever is the lower.
If the vehicle's owner is absent at the time of the seizure. Customs can demand 50% of the revenue evaded before their vehicle is returned. They used to charge 25%.
Light vehicle rental companies ignoring Customs' smuggler warnings will be charged 25% of the duty evaded by one of their vehicle users, and Customs wants hire companies to ensure that their contracts make hirers responsible for any evasion penalties.