Border Security

Chief Immigration Officer (CMO), Stanis Hulahau when answering the question of the whether the ICA is an enforcement agency or revenue collection agency said, “The short answer to this question is, both.” 

He was speaking at the PNG National Research Institute Council Chairman’s Seminar Series on National Security, that took place on April 13 and 14.

The seminar provided an opportunity for the CMO to elaborate on how ICA is able to successfully navigate the two complex requirements, which may seem to conflict each other.

The increase in penalty fees and the move to prosecute non-compliant importers are due to amendments made to the Customs Act in 2020. This was made known during a press conference this week to announce the end of an investigation into an importer that attempted to avoid paying the due tax for goods imported into the country.

The importer was ordered to pay a penalty fine of more than K2 million and will face prosecution.