BVI Customs surveillance pays off again

Tuesday, December 30, 2003

ROAD TOWN, BVI: The increased surveillance by the British Virgin Islands Customs Department during the Christmas and New Year's holiday period has paid off yet again.

Assistant Comptroller (Enforcement) Mr. Dean Fahie told the Government Information Service (GIS) that, on Thursday, December 25, customs officers at the Terrance B. Lettsome (TBL) International Airport, Beef Island, detained a Colombian national who was in possession of $3,977 in counterfeit United States dollars.

Mr. Fahie reported that the passenger was coming into the BVI as a visitor, travelling from Trinidad and Tobago on Leeward Islands Air Transport (LIAT) flight number 301 at around 12:30 p.m. on the day in question.

He said the customs officers on duty at the TBL Airport at the time noticed that the passenger was acting in a suspicious manner and decided to question him in detail as well as conduct a personal search of his belongings. 

The search unearthed $300 in legal US currency, along with the counterfeit notes, Mr. Fahie explained.

Mr. Fahie added that the passenger was detained and handed over to the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force for further investigation.

He said it is expected that the matter will be brought before the Magistrate's Court on Monday, December 29.

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