Tag: Customs Department
Crown’s defence in doctors’ JR on shaky ground
(CNS) A Grand Court judge raised concerns on Thursday about how the crown is presenting its defence to a judicial review brought by Doctors Express over the seizure of their legal medical cannabis last year. On a number of occasions Justice Robin McMillan pointed out to counsel from the Attorney General’s Chambers, that he was […]
Raid on doctors ‘malicious’, argues lawyer
(CNS): A raid by HM Customs at a medical centre prescribing legal cannabis oil was unlawful and malicious, a lawyer argued on Tuesday. At a judicial review into the 2019 incident, in which legal medicines were seized from Doctors Express, James Austin-Smith presented a list of damning evidence about how the entire operation was planned […]
Public purse lost $1M on failed customs IT
(CNS): The financial secretary told the Public Accounts Committee last week that the customs department was forced to write off over CI$970,000 from last year’s budget after it invested in a technology system that didn’t work.
Audit was at ‘challenging time’ says Customs
(CNS): The Customs and Border Control Agency has responded to an audit report of its predecessor, the Customs Department, which was made public Thursday. The CBC noted that it was undertaken at a “particularly challenging time”, when the staff were in the middle of a number of new initiatives, including the roll-out of a new […]
Auditor finds customs falling short
(CNS): Although customs is responsible for collecting around $165 million per year in duties, fees and fines, amounting to over 20% of government revenue, the auditor general found a number of shortcomings at the unit, including a lack of any plans and a failure to manage duty waivers. In her latest report, based on an […]
Jamaican allegedly smuggled cocaine in food
(CNS): A 30-year-old Jamaican man has been arrested on suspicion of possession and importation of around five pounds of cocaine, customs officials have said. The man was taken into custody at Owen Roberts International Airport on Friday night during a joint customs and police intelligence-led operation following his arrival on a Cayman Airways flight from Kingston. The narcotics […]
Customs warehouse workers accused of theft
(CNS): UPDATED The two civilian employees of the Customs Department who work in the warehouse arrested on suspicion of theft on Wednesday have now been charged are expected in court next Tuesday. The men were arrested following a joint RCIPS-led operation of customs and police officers. Collector of Customs Charles Clifford said that, as a result of […]
Customs seize boat, booze and drugs
(CNS): Seven Honduran nationals have been arrested by customs officers following the discovery of a quantity of drugs, fish and illegal alcohol aboard a 50-foot fishing vessel in local waters. The boat has also been seized, Collector of Customs Charles Clifford has confirmed. On Tuesday 29 September when the vessel came into George Town Port, […]
Chuckie named as new customs boss
(CNS): Former Cabinet minister and senior civil servant, Charles “Chuckie” Clifford has been appointed as the Cayman Islands collector of customs after six rounds of recruitment for the top government job. Speculation had been mounting over the last few weeks that the local attorney had been selected for the post, which had been vacant for […]
Six cops on leave face criminal charges
(CNS): The latest results of an FOI request have revealed that ten police and fire officers have been suspended from duty as a result of criminal charges and investigations. One police constable has been paid to stay at home since June 2009 due to an ongoing criminal case. There are six police officers and four firefighters currently […]
Top customs job still vacant, Bennett returns to Immigration
(CNS): Despite a recent recruitment process to fill the top job at the customs department, the important post remains vacant. Samantha Bennett, who had taken the job on secondment in November 2013, returned to her former post as the deputy chief immigration officer on Monday, leaving Deputy Collector of Customs Collie Powery to head the department temporarily. […]
