ST JOHN’S, Antigua : Although not named, two people were suspended yesterday as an investigation widened into whether a shipping container had been removed illegally from the port and if so, to uncover the identities of all those involved.
The suspension of a customs officer and a customs broker were immediate and expected to last at least as long as it takes to unravel the story of the suspect consignment.
Speaking at a press conference, Customs Public Relations Officer (PRO) Milton Aska wouldn’t reveal what has been found so far but assured that suspensions were justified by what has been discovered.
“The investigation is more than internal. It involves an importer. It involves a broker. It involves making queries at the port to see if they were in impropriety, or anyone involved aided and abetted this process. I’m saying to you that from the information that we have received so far, it was enough to ask the customs officer to be on suspension,” he said, stressing that all parties being investigated are co-operating.
Aska wouldn’t give any further details on the case, but he used the press conference to send the message that no known slighting of customs would be tolerated, whether the transgressor is internal or external.
“We’re dealing with in-house issues first,” he said.
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