Somali association charged with tax evasion

Oslo Airport Gardermoen. Passenger record cycling world championship customsOslo Airport Gardermoen in Ullensaker Municipality. Photo: Norway Today Media

A Somali association has been charged with tax evasion after customs at the airport stopped a mail package containing 11 million kroner.

The currency seizure is the largest ever made at Gardermoen, NRK news.

The money was attempted sent to England and dates from Hawala business, which is a legal service to transfer money between countries that have no functioning banking.

– They were declared properly, but both Norway and England have good and well-functioning banking system, so we questioned why such a large sum was sent in cash and not through a bank, section chief  at customs at Oslo airport, Tor Fredriksen. says.

When police raided the premises of the association in Oslo, it found lists and cash amounts which showed that the association had run the Hawala business for several years and transferred hundreds of million abroad.

-The police is aware that the association has received a percentage of the amount.  The police consider this money to be taxable, and it has not been reported to the Tax Inspectorate, police attorney in Eastern Police District, Mathias Emil Hager, said.

The counsel of the association, Frode Sulland, does not agree with the police.

– The association believes that the organization they run, have not been obliged to submit a tax return and that it  is not taxable because they have not done any work-related activities, he said.

 

Source: NTB scanpix / Norway Today