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 A Warning to Vehicle Importers
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In January 2008, a New Zealand resident placed a bid on the online auction site for a 1957 Ford Fairlane car. His bid of US$24,100 was accepted and arrangements were made to ship the vehicle to New Zealand.
The purchaser structured his payment arrangements so that he could produce false valuation details to Customs when clearing the vehicle on its arrival. Alert Customs officers, when inspecting the vehicle, concluded that the declared value did not reflect its true condition.
The importer was questioned and admitted he had deliberately created false documents that undervalued the vehicle so as to avoid paying full GST on the vehicle.
He was convicted in the Ashburton District Court for producing a document to a Customs officer knowing it to be false and was fined $2000. As a result of the conviction the vehicle is condemned to the Crown
It's not worth risking your dream car for a few dollars
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