DILI, 13 september 2024 (TATOLI) – The Ministry of Finance, through the Customs Authority (Customs/AA), handed over 2,800 boxes of Cimory Yogurt Drink to the Ministry of Solidarity and Social Inclusion (MSSI).
The Interim National Director of Customs, Armindo Santos, said that the drinks that Customs offered to the MSSI were imported by importers to Timor-Leste. However, when the drinks arrived in Timor-Leste there were unable to pay the tax imposed in accordance with the selective tax law of $3 per liter; therefore, the importers decided to hand over them to the state.
“Based on the provisions of Law Number 14 of 2017, it states that confiscated goods can be auctioned to the public to get money for the state treasury, destroyed if the goods have expired, and can be donated to people in need; thus, Customs donated the goods to MSSI,” said Armindo Santos, at MSSI, Cai-coli, Dili.
He emphasized that the drinks that are donated to MSSI will expire in december 2024; therefore, there are still several months to be consumed by people in need.
Florêncio Pina Gonzaga, the Director General of Social Protection Services MSSI, stated that the drinks that Customs provided to MSSI will be returned to the organizations that support vulnerable populations, particularly children.
“On behalf of MSSI, I thanked Customs for donating the goods, and we will continue to distribute them to national solidarity institutions and also municipal governments to be distributed to the vulnerable people,” he concluded.
Journalist: Camilio de Sousa
Editor: Rafael Ximenes de A. Belo
