GRA seizes over 10,720 lbs smuggled chicken

Swift action by the Law Enforcement and Investigation Division (LEID) of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) aided in the removal of a large quantity of seized foreign chicken from two separate cold storage facilities in the Berbice area after it was discovered that the commodities were unlawfully being disposed of, the GRA said yesterday.

Enforcement activities over the past week led to the GRA removing 190 boxes and one pack of chicken from one of the locations in Corentyne, Berbice and 52 boxes and one pack from another facility at Annandale on the East Coast of Demerara. Two individuals were arrested in connection with the act and placed on station bail. It is believed that they were trying to dispose of a total of 375 boxes (weighing approximately 15,000 lbs) of chicken.

Meanwhile, other exercises were also conducted simultaneously at Bush Lot, West Coast Berbice and Bourda Market leading to the discovery of more irregularities in the sale of uncustomed chicken and prompting seizures and legal action, GRA said.

The GRA seized an aggregate 268 boxes and two packs of chicken (weighing approximately 10,720 lbs). That amount was handed over to the Ministry of Public Health for appropriate use under the instruction of the Commissioner-General, the GRA said.

The GRA in its future efforts to minimize recurrences of this nature and to avert the likelihood of smuggled chicken re-entering the market, says it will be donating such seizures for utilization by the appropriate Ministries and other State Agencies, rather than offering them for sale to the general public.

The Authority meanwhile is in the process of procuring and establishing cold storage facilities in its warehouses in Berbice and Georgetown, the GRA added.