This privilege does not even apply to a flight attendant, airport officials, Customs officials or even duty free shop staffs.
On the 28th of July 2013, a duty free staff at the Port Vila International Airport arrival lounge walked away with a full gross of cigarettes in her possession. This followed a raid that Customs officials decided to conduct after observing the duty free staffs tend not to leave the shop after all passengers were cleared and all airport officials have vacated their offices.
The gross of cigarettes was found concealed inside the purse of the staff concerned. The staff has been imposed with a penalty as her actions constitute an offence. Duty free ofἀcers and duty free Shop owners are again reminded on the rules governing duty frees and offences relating to duty free goods.
The following sections of Customs Act CAP 257 pro-vides these regarding “offenc-es relating to duty free goods”Section 45 (1) states that “a person must not open, remove or interfere in any way with the goods stored in a bonded warehouse or airport duty free shop unless the person has Custom’s permission to do so”.
Section 45 (2) states that “customs may examine at any-time the goods deposited and stored in a bonded warehouse or airport duty free shop”.
Section 45 (4) (d) (i) states provides that a person who removes any duty free goods from an airport duty free shop other than by a sale to a passenger arriving in, or departing from Vanuatu is guilty of an offence punishable on conviction by a ἀne of not more than VT 500,000 or imprisonment for not more than 6 months, or both.
