By Solomon T. Gaye Sr.
The Joint Security in Nimba County has seized vehicles allegedly smuggled into the country bearing Liberian license plates A12350, A3322, A12351, A11464 and a jeep bearing plate A61298 respectively.
The vehicles were allegedly seized along the Yekepa border line while trying to leave the border in Nimba County.
The four used vehicles that were said to have arrived in convoy at the Ganta main border under Customs’ escort on May 7, 2021 had original Guinean plates that were replaced with Liberia license plates using a sub port in the country.
According to Joint Security members, they are observing the situation regarding the vehicles’ place of origin from Guinea to enter Liberia bearing Liberian license plates without documents from Customs or Ministry of Transport.
When this paper contacted Senior Customs Officer Varney Bornbo at the border in Ganta over the weekend, he confirmed the seizure of the undeclared used vehicles and remained tightlipped on the names of the consignees who allegedly smuggled the vehicles and removed the original Guinean plates and replaced them with Liberian plates.
Speaking in separate remarks, Customs Senior Officer Varney Bornbo, angrily responded, “No smugglers in Customs; in Customs we have undeclared Goods, so that is what we are talking about.”
He further stated that for any information regarding these undeclared vehicles, one should contact the Customs (PRO) in Monrovia, not him.
When this paper contacted the Ministry of Transport office at the Guinea Road in Ganta, MOT Regional boss Alex Nyenplu, expressed dissatisfaction over the removal of original Guinean plates on used vehicles and replace them with Liberian plates.
He said the situation will be thoroughly investigated to get all facts as who purchased these plates to take to Guinea to bring in used cars to Liberia.