ECJ NETHERLANDS CIGARETTE CUSTOMS CASE
September 1st, 2005
BY KEITH NUTHALL
A DUTCH cigarette wholesale trader hit by an illegal diversion of cargo involving corrupt customs officers should pay Euro 1 million customs debts, the European Court of Justice's Court of First Instance has ruled. It said Ricosmos, of the Netherlands, then part of the Kamstra Shipstores group, was liable, despite not being involved in the fraud. The company unsuccessfully argued the European Commission, which confirmed the Dutch decision, had insufficiently notified it about proceedings, prevented it inspecting files and deliberated too slowly.
A DUTCH cigarette wholesale trader hit by an illegal diversion of cargo involving corrupt customs officers should pay Euro 1 million customs debts, the European Court of Justice's Court of First Instance has ruled. It said Ricosmos, of the Netherlands, then part of the Kamstra Shipstores group, was liable, despite not being involved in the fraud. The company unsuccessfully argued the European Commission, which confirmed the Dutch decision, had insufficiently notified it about proceedings, prevented it inspecting files and deliberated too slowly.
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