Businessman charged with illegally importing BMW X6 to Jamaica

A St Andrew businessman became the first person to face criminal charges following a series of operations across several parishes earlier this month in which a dozen high-end motor vehicles were seized by the Revenue Protection Division (RPD).

He is Dwight Morgan, the 42-year-old managing director of BUCMARS Limited.

Morgan was arrested by personnel from the RPD on Wednesday and charged with importing a motor vehicle without an import licence and for handling the vehicle in a manner designed to evade Customs charges.

According to the RPD, the charges stem from the importation, last year, of a 2013 BMW X6 sport utility vehicle, which was allegedly declared as a 2012 model.

RPD says in addition to the alleged false chassis number used to support the declaration, the vehicle was reported stolen in the United States and is subject to an insurance claim in that jurisdiction.

Morgan appeared in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate Court on Thursday and was offered bail and is scheduled to return on June 4.

On April 12, personnel from the RPD, supported by the Major Organised Crime Investigation Taskforce, conducted a series of pre-dawn raids in Kingston, St Andrew, St Catherine, St Elizabeth and St Ann that resulted in the seized of 12 vehicles with an estimated value of $80 million.

RPD says the vehicles were imported contrary to the Customs Act and could be forfeited to the State.

credit: jamaica gleaner