Customs still retains US$22.0M Barrick Gold shipment

Santo Domingo.- The Customs Agency has yet to release ashipment of 12 doré bars (gold and silver) worth US$22.0 million which BarrickGold was about to exported to Canada via the United States..

Customs director Fernando Fernandez heads the inspection ofthe gold shipment with specialists, with more analyses expected today.

Customs officials report finding irregularities incustoms procedures, while agency spokesperson Abinader Fortunato said the procedurebeing carried out is a complex scientific process.

Fortunato said Customs works to install a lab to analyze metalsat Las Americas International Airport, expected to be ready within two months.

The Dominican government has vowed to slap the miningcompany with more than US$1.0 billion in fines for Barrick’s alleged irregularitiesin its more than 27 shipments since last November.