Syria: Customs claims to have seized Israeli made goods, again

Customs officers uncovered a shipment of 100 Israeli made women T shirts packed in 400 kg shipment and valued at US$7,000 Al-Quds Al-Arabi, an Arabic language newspaper published in London and covering race, ethnic society and culture, reported last week of a second seizure of Israeli made goods by Syria's Customs Authority. According to the paper, customs officers uncovered a shipment of 100 Israeli made women T shirts packed in 400 kg shipment. The paper added that the worth of the Israeli made textile was SP 320,000 (US$7,000). The press report said that the importer was heavily fined and was ordered to pay SP1.5m (US$33,000) in fines. Earlier this month the Al Watan Newspaper, daily independent political and economical newspaper in Syria, published that Syrian Customs Authority at Latakia caught and confiscated smuggled merchandise apparently made in Israel while it was on its way to enter the Syrian markets. The confiscated smuggled goods included, according to the Al Watan Newspaper, electrical equipment which, according to customs officials, carry signs of their Israeli origin. The importer was heavily fined and was ordered to pay SP74.7m (US$1.6m) in fines. Syrian law prohibits trade with Israel and apply trade embargo against Israel aims to challenge the legitimacy of the state of Israel.