New Rule To Curb Import Of Liquor
By Azlan Othman

Bandar Seri Begawan - Daily liquor runs across the border by some of the nonMuslim expatriates in the country will soon be a thing of the past.

Effective March 1, 2007, those who are allowed to bring in the permitted quota of liquor into the country will have to wait for the next 48 hours to make another dash to the border to replenish their stocks.

A Senior Customs Officer yesterday confirmed the impending rule and added that the directive is being enforced to control the import of liquor into the country as officials in the department have been seeing a trend of non-Muslims crossing control posts five to six times a day to bring in liquor.

"The new ruling is stated in the trial declaration form which is now available at control posts throughout the country. Trial forms will be used until February 28 after which the new forms, which are more or less similar, will be used," he said.

"Non-Muslims can bring in 12 cans of beer and two bottles of liquor every time they enter Brunei," said the officer. Though there will be no change to the quantity that one can bring in, the new ruling will cut the frequency to once in three days beginning March 1.

The Bulletin received letters from expatriates seeking to verify the change in liquor import rule.

The Royal Brunei Customs and Excise Department also frequently comes across people attempting to smuggle beer and liquor into the country illegally via routes locally called Jalan Tikus or "mouse trail", especially in Junjungan/Kuala Lurah, or by hiding them inside their cars.

In some cases, foreign nationals were reportedly paid to bring liquor illegally into the country. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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