The Customs Division is presently dealing with several cases of vehicle seizures at the port after it was found that the importation of these vehicles did not meet import permit requirements.

Despite all the publicity and common knowledge of the import regulations, vehicles from abroad continue to arrive at the port in default of import regulations.

An official of the Trades Tax Division of the Ministry of Finance said recently Customs seized 17 pick-up trucks of various capacities and years of manufacture. Although the importation of used trucks of up to three years old is allowed, vehicles which according to investigations have been found to have been manufactured as far back as 1993 and 1996, are among the seizures. 

“It is clear that people are trying to import old vehicles of up to 10 years old,” said the Trade Tax official.

There is tighter control on importation of bigger capacity and older trucks, used mainly for specialized purposes.

Used vehicles are said to be an environmental problem because their specifications are for a different market and it is also difficult to determine their road worthiness.

Among the seizures cases there were importers who had been granted permit for new vehicles but instead brought in second-hand vehicles.

It is suspected that some importers of the pick-ups have been conned by agents who arranged to have these vehicles sent to Seychelles.  Some distraught owners, who put the blame on the agents for sending them the wrong vehicles, said they borrowed money locally to pay for the trucks.

Still others who had the permit for normal pick-up truck imported used twin-cab pick-up instead.

There are cases of the owners applying for import permit only after the vehicles or parts had arrived at the port.

Left-hand-drive vehicles, including new ones, are still arriving at the port although in Seychelles we don’t drive on the right. 

The Customs official said difficulties in clearing goods from the port could be avoided if importers abided by import regulations.

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