DZINTARS

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Trawler arrested for fish smuggling

The "Dzintars" has been arrested in Liberia for fisheries crimes including fish smuggling and violations of tax and customs laws. The trawler was boarded by the Liberian Coast Guard after the vessel shut down her Automatic Identification System before crossing from neighboring Sierra Leone into Liberian waters. The Coast Guard boarded the "Dzintars" with the assistance of the Sea Shepherd vessel "Sam Simon". It berthed in Freetown on Nov 8, 2017. The master of the vessel had deliberately turned off the AIS before entering Liberian waters, he had not declared “Catch On Entry” as required by Liberian Fisheries Regulations and did not have an Import Permit for Fish and Fish Products as required under Liberian Law, so the "Dzintars" was arrested on suspicion of illegal and unreported fishing with the criminal intent of avoiding tax and customs laws in Liberia. A wild monkey was also found on board in the fish processing plant, for which there was no paperwork provided.

Seized vessel owner sues Liberian Government

The owners of the "Dzintars" have sued the government of that country for what it deems to be the illegal seizure of the vessel that was transporting assorted frozen fish from Sierra Leone. The items being transported by the seized vessel are worth USD 94,270, and were intended for delivery to National Frozen Fish Company in Monrovia, consignee of Libellant (the firm filing the suit), Liberian Observer reported. Libellant, located in St. Kitts and Nevis, is also seeking a compensation of USD 957,348. In its lawsuit, the firm demands that the government of Liberia pay Libellant USD 457,348 representing special damages, of which USD 250,000 represents loss of revenue and earnings by the company as a direct and proximate result of its detention for ten days – which may increase every day the vessel is detained at the rate of USD 25,000 per day. The remaining amount, USD 207,348, would be for the value of the assorted frozen fish, including a 60 per cent markup covering taxes, handling and operational expenses. Libellant also demands USD 500,000 for general damages for the unlawful arrest and detention, the reputational damage, the hardship, and inconvenience sustained by the crew of the vessel, totaling USD 957,348. Libellant’s lawyer Benedict Sannoh, former Attorney General and Minister of Justice of Liberia, alleged that on August 28, the Liberia Coast Guard (of the Ministry of Defense) intercepted and entered the vessel on its way from Sierra Leone; and upon inspection, informed the captain that the vessel was under arrest. Libellant also claims that prior to the vessel’s departure from Sierra Leone, the consignee obtained an import permit and declaration from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry of the Government of Liberia authorizing the company to import the consignment from Sierra Leone to Liberia. Besides, the suit claimed that the frozen fish company made a declaration of the consignment to the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) of which LRD 1,921,095 (USD 16,191) was paid into the Liberian government’s coffers. The suit also alleged that instead of bringing Libellant to the Port of Monrovia, the Coast Guard escorted and held the vessel at bay on the sea in the basin outside of the pilot station at the Freeport of Monrovia.