BVI News

Customs: Fake gov’t cheques, drugs imported through courier service

One of the fake cheques detected recently.

A vast amount of goods are now entering the BVI through local courier services and Her Majesty’s Customs recently found drugs and fraudulent government cheques inside one of those packages.

Speaking on ZBVI Radio recently, Deputy Commissioner of Customs Clinton Romney said there has been an increase in the importation of drugs through these courier services.

He, however, said criminals seem to have elevated the types of illicit items they import into the territory.

“The canine unit along with officers from Beef Island [recently] made a discovery of contraband — marijuana. But inside that particular box, there were other boxes and in one of those packages there were some cheques that we discovered to be fraudulent. Those cheques amounted to somewhere under $40,000,” Romney reported.

“So, one thing leads to the next. Yes, we would receive fraudulent invoices that persons would submit to make their declaration. But in this case, we actually saw fraudulent documents in terms of government cheques coming into the territory,” he stated.

Hard to get a conviction

Romney said illicit items are being imported through all the courier services that utilise local ports.

And while the Customs Department’s detection rate is up, Romney said they have a challenge determining the persons importing these contraband.

“Our ultimate goal is to get convictions. [But] for cargo that comes through a courier that it is consigned to ‘John Doe’, it is very difficult that we could prepare a case, send it to the DPP, and get a conviction,” he explained.

However, he said Her Majesty’s Customs has devised a solution which has already been brought to government officials. BVI News will share more information on this in a subsequent publication.

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18 Comments

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  1. Irma Chisit says:

    Well somebody here must be involved. Addressed to somebody?

    Like 22
  2. Frank Doe says:

    Hey! that’s my dad’s stuff!

    • Mr.Knowitall says:

      LOL fake cheques you say??? And my partna up country still waiting on the Nigerians to send him his 230 Million dollars. Yuh dont wanna see him up and down western union every week sending money.

  3. Shaft says:

    Well thats very strange uncle andy has said that there is no corruption here in this holy land and the canaries and choir boys are hollering its the racist white boys /uk and jaspert who is trying to tarnish the bvi holy name / then the player wanna be ( his excellency csc ) calling for independence from these racist pigs and the racism that exists here against our own caribbean brothers and sisters being swept unfer the rug

    Like 38
    Dislike 5
  4. What? says:

    So what happens, the cheques are made out to a fake name and the person has a fake ID so they can cash it at the bank?

    Like 17
  5. My word says:

    Well shiver me timbers and me jack.

    uhmm duh track the recipient and who nab them

    Like 10
  6. Hahaha says:

    It’s strange
    The have to blame someone or something
    All of a sudden it’s fake
    Everybody know it’s the bigger boss in these illegal business

    Like 7
    Dislike 1
    • @Hahaha says:

      You seem to have some information. Why not turn this over the Commission of Inquiry and help save our country from this corruption? Remember we are a part of the problem if we see or know something but dont say anything.

  7. Question says:

    Because of LAX of controls within the Government processes?

  8. @ WHAT says:

    SLOWLY ITS BEGINING TO UNFOLD OF THE LEVEL OF CORRUPTION THAT EXISTS IN THE HOLY LAND AND THE PEOPLE IN STRATEGICALLY KEY POSITIONS WITHING GOVERNMENT AND OUTSIDE GOVERNMENT THATS INVOLVED IN THE TRANSITION OF THE WHITE LADY FLOWING THROUGH OUR ONCE PEACEFUL LAND / WHAT IS DONE IN DARKNESS WILL COM TO LIGHT

    Like 5
    Dislike 1
  9. Okay says:

    How are they getting the goods out of courier with those names? Shouldn’t an ID be presented for collection? And how they know John Doe package would get through the courier?

  10. BVIslander says:

    Wow. These people aren’t easy. They think of everything,except how to save their souls.

    Just running down money by any means necessary. SMH

  11. Obviously says:

    Somebody got the plug in the courier duh! I would think it’s a girl because seems when they have issues stuff don’t get thru. Check the workers lifestyle and company. Common sense.

  12. Ting to talk says:

    This is a smart move deputy. Is there a criminal investigation in progress?,anyone arrested, did you identify the mastermind behind the job as yet? Talktola!

  13. Hm says:

    So the teller who claimed he was given a fraudulent cheque may be innocent…..Sue.

  14. Tabias says:

    I heard there was a kid in the US sending the packages

  15. Anonymous says:

    No way

  16. gc says:

    My blow up doll is,fake news

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