Seventeen persons including custom brokers, truck drivers and wharf workers were arrested yesterday following a major operation at the port of Kingston and sections of the Corporate Area on Thursday night.

The operation led to the seizure of washing machines, LCD and plasma televisions, refrigerators and electronic and stereo systems.

Custom officials carried out the operation after they discovered disparities between the arrival and release documentation and duties paid for a number of containers housed at the ports.

Further checks uncovered that 30 containers were illegally removed from as early as November, 2009. Police investigations led to the discovery of two drop-off points in the Kingston 10 area. Premises in the area were searched and revealed five containers of uncustomed appliances.

Commissioner of Customs Danville Walker said yesterday that these activities may have cost the country more than $150 million in custom duties.

Walker described the activities as a conspiracy and said the workers exploited their intimate knowledge of the port and customs system.

He said that the effect of uncustomed goods being sold in the marketplace could be devastating for the economy.