A number of bonded warehouses run the risk of losing the functioning authorization following inspections carried out by the Customs Service recently, IPN reports, quoting a press release of the Service.

The Customs Service finalized the second stage of the assessment of customs warehouses, which included their infrastructure and storage capacity, functionality of the examination machinery, observance of the security norms and final destination of all the categories of stored goods.

The second inspection revealed a series of irregularities at bonded warehouses. Also, a number of warehouses stopped work and will be thus subject to liquidation. The examinations will continue directly during clearance. There will be established the real destination of the stored goods pending re-export so as to prevent their placement on the home market without levying import duties.

According to the preliminary data, seven customs warehouses do not meet the functioning conditions and generate suspicions as to the legality and transparency of the transactions carried out under this facilitated regime.

The Customs Service’s Director General Vitalie Vrabie reiterated the necessity of strictly monitoring these operations, noting that the taken measures are aimed at ensuring the economic security of the state and at promoting loyal competition among entrepreneurs.

According to the press release, the goods stored now at the 50 bonded warehouses were estimated at about 1 billion lei. The inefficient administration of this area can cause considerable damage to the state budget.