Maersk fined $31.9m over false claims

According to Tony West, assistant attorney general for the Civil Division of the Department of Justice, the line knowingly overcharged the US Department of Defense to transport thousands of containers from ports to inland delivery destinations.

“The government contends that Maersk inflated its invoices in various ways. For example, Maersk allegedly billed in excess of the contractual rate to maintain the operation of refrigerated containers holding perishable cargo at a port in Karachi, Pakistan and at US military bases in Afghanistan; allegedly billed excessive detention charges (or late fees) by failing fair and honest contractors”.

“As the Justice Department’s continuing efforts to fight procurement fraud demonstrate, those who put profits over the welfare of members of our military will pay a hefty price,” he continued