Alcohol, plastic bags, unused excise stamps seized from warehouse in Qormi

The customs department found 162 bottles of alcoholic beverages, including rum brandy and several types of liqueur, as well as other contraband items

 Customs officials were led to the warehouse following an inspection at a Gzira outlet (File Photo)
Customs officials were led to the warehouse following an inspection at a Gzira outlet (File Photo)

Alcohol, plastic bags and unused excise stamps were seized by customs officials from a warehouse in Qormi on Thursday.

In a statement on Friday, the department said customs officials were led to the warehouse following an inspection at a Gzira outlet while carrying out routine searches as part of the effort by the customs department to curb excise fraud.

The officials found: 1,473 plastic bags; 162 bottles of alcoholic beverages including rum, brandy and several liqueurs; 110 bottles of wine which did not have their excise tax paid and a total of 510 unused excise stamps.

The department encouraged all operators and establishments importing or selling excise goods, to make sure their business was in order, “as there will be zero tolerance to unpaid excise dues or mismanagement of excise stamps.”