Customs department has detained 14 officers suspect of complicity with importers that resulted in an estimated RD$200 million import duty evasions uncovered last week. Customs has not officially revealed the names of the firms involved in the tax evasions. Customs has told the press that it has reached agreements with three companies involved in the evasion and recovered RD$63 million. The department expects to recover RD$27 million more. Now importers are requesting that all merchandise be evaluated at the same time so that no particular company can be favored. Importers say that their worst competition comes from companies that are able to secure tax advantages through corruption.
