“4- (1) The reliefs afforded under this Order are subject to the condition that the goods in question, as indicated by their nature or quantity or otherwise, are not held for a commercial purpose, nor are used for such purpose, and if that condition is not complied with in relation to any goods, those goods shall, unless the non-compliance was sanctioned by the Commissioners, be liable to forfeiture.” (iv) Section 49(1) of the Customs and Excise management Act 1979 (“CEMA”) states: “Where – (a) except as provided by or under the Customs and Excise Acts 1979, any imported goods, being chargeable on their importation with customs or excise duty, are, without payment of that duty – (b) unshipped in any port, (c) any imported goods are concealed or packed in any manner appearing to be intended to deceive an officer Those goods shall … be liable to forfeiture.” (v) Section 139(1) of CEMA provides that: “Any thing liable to forfeiture under the customs and excise Acts may be seized or detained by any officer or constable, or any member of Her Majesty’s armed forces or coastguard.” (vi) Section 141(1) of CEMA states that “where any thing has become liable to forfeiture under the customs and excise Acts”- (a) any ship, aircraft, vehicle, animal, container (including any article of passengers’ baggage) or other thing whatsoever which has been used for the carriage, handling, deposit or concealment of the thing so liable to forfeiture, either at a time when it was so liable or for the purposes of the commission of the offence for which it later became so liable; and (b) any other thing mixed, packed or found with the fittings so liable, shall also be liable to forfeiture.” (vii) Section 152 of CEMA establishes that: “The Commissioners may, as they see fit – …(b) restore, subject to such conditions (if any) as they think proper, anything forfeited or seized under the Customs and Excise Acts.” (vii) Finally, sections 14 to 16 of theFinance Act 1994 provide that: Section 14(2): (2) Any person who is – (a) a person whose liability to pay any relevant duty or penalty is determined by, results from or is or will be affected by any decision to which this section applies, (b) a person in relation to whom, or on whose application, such a decision has been made, or (c) a person on or to whom the conditions, limitations, restrictions, prohibitions or other requirements to which such a decision relates are or are to be imposed or applied, may by notice in writing to the Commissioners require them to review that decision. Section 15(1): “Where the Commissioners are required in accordance with this Chapter to review any decision, it shall be their duty to do so and they may, on that review, either – (a) confirm the decision; or (b) withdraw or vary the decision and take such further steps (if any) in consequence of the withdrawal or variation as they may consider appropriate.”
“Those who deliberately use their cars to further fraudulent commercial ventures in the knowledge that if they are caught their vehicles will be rendered liable to forfeiture cannot reasonably be heard to complain if they lose those vehicles. Nor does it seem to me that, in such circumstances, the value of the car used need to be taken into consideration. Those circumstances will normally take the case beyond the threshold where that factor can carry significant weight in the balance. Cases of exceptional hardship must always, of course, be given due consideration …”