Former Minister’s son implicated in Customs fraud

A former Government Minister’s son who manages a popular Main Street nightspot was reportedly detained and then released on Friday after Customs discovered a significant quantity of Johnny Walker Black Label whisky in a container.
The shipment which was not initially declared was found during a random inspection on a city wharf by Customs.
Kaieteur News understands that Ravi Prashad, son of former Trade and Tourism Minister, Manniram Prashad, was held along with a Customs broker after the discovery.
They were later released. It is unclear what happened to the liquor.
The shipment, according to Customs sources, came in for a company called Top Brandz which would supply liquor to Palm Court, said to be owned by the Prashad family.
It was disclosed that the container was randomly selected by the Customs’ system, called TRIPS, for a 100 per cent check.
While the beer was listed on the Customs documents, the cases of whiskey were not.
Members of the Customs’ Enforcement Unit immediately detained Prashad and the broker.
Customs officials yesterday said that duties and taxes on the liquor would have amounted to millions of dollars.