Customs breach

JAMAICA CUSTOMS yesterday said 31 barrels containing compressed tobacco with an estimated street value of approximately $5 million were discovered at Kingston Wharves over a five-week period.

A media release issued by Customs yesterday said several Canadian shipments which arrived in the island on December 23 last year were examined and found to contain compressed tobacco.

"These shipments came on board the vessel Zim Haifa and were all consigned to farm workers who participated in the farm-work programme," Jamaica Customs said.

"The importers were found to have breached sections 209, 210 and 211 of the Customs Act which speaks to false declaration, importation without the required permit and concealment of goods, respectively," Jamaica Customs said.