MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS STATEMENT

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS STATEMENT

Reference is made to various press reports appearing in the Maltese and International Media on the shipment of suspect goods to Malta in May 1999. Due to the numerous inaccuracies contained in these reports, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is making the following formal statement.

On 15^th May 1999, 38 packages of declared "auto parts" arrived on a British Airways flight from Gatwick addressed to a Maltese company.

This company failed to collect the cargo within seven days of its arrival and it was transferred to Newport Bonded Stores according to standing procedures.

On 18^th June, 1999, the UK Customs Department asked the Maltese Customs Department to return the 38 packages since they had been shipped to Malta in error after UK Customs had started investigations into their end use.

British Airways, in turn, also asked for the goods to be re-exported and the Maltese company they were addressed to had no objection to their being re-shipped. The goods were subsequently re-shipped to the UK on 2^nd July, 1999.

12.01.2000