The Turks and Caicos Islands Border Force has recovered more than $1.7 million in unpaid customs duties through recent compliance efforts, according to an official announcement.
“The Turks and Caicos Islands Border Force continues to uphold its commitment to trade compliance, recovering a further $1,389,347.71 in unpaid customs duties and fees from five major importers between September 2024 and January 2025,” the statement revealed. “This latest recovery brings the total amount collected through compliance checks to $1,752,539.11 between May 2024 and February 2025.”
The Border Force explained that its “strengthened compliance measures ensure the accurate collection of customs duties, prevent fraudulent activities such as undervaluation or misclassification, and create a fair-trading environment for legitimate businesses.”
Director General Emilio Seymour emphasized the importance of these enforcement actions, stating: “Recent intensified compliance checks have generated significant financial gains for the Turks and Caicos Islands, reinforcing the absolute necessity of adhering to customs regulations.”
The announcement included a stark warning about the consequences of non-compliance: “Submitting false declarations to Border Force when importing goods can lead to serious consequences. In addition to owing unpaid duties and overpayments, importers risk having their goods seized, facing fines of up to $20,000, and even imprisonment for up to two years.”
