A Roadmap to Prevent Customs Smuggling

Report by: Amal Mohammed Hassan

The issue of customs smuggling has become a significant threat to economic development, practiced through various methods that have prompted the state to prioritize its combat and enact strict laws to limit it. Historically, smuggling in Sudan dates back to the colonial period (1899-1956), when goods such as ivory, gold, and agricultural products were trafficked. This issue persisted even after Sudan gained independence in 1956, leading to numerous challenges in monitoring long and unprotected borders. Consequently, the smuggling of goods, including weapons and food products, into and out of the country has intensified due to shortages of essential goods and rising costs during the economic sanctions imposed on Sudan from 1997 to 2020, when fuel, food items, and consumer products were smuggled into Sudan from neighboring countries.

In its efforts to combat smuggling, the Ministry of Interior organized a workshop on customs smuggling under the slogan "Smuggling is Betrayal of the Homeland and Destruction of the Economy." During the workshop, Major General Youssef Abdel Aziz from the General Intelligence Service - Economic Security presented a paper titled "The Security Vision for Combating Customs Smuggling," stating that smuggling is influenced by political tensions and economic crises, alongside weaknesses in border infrastructure, making effective combat against this phenomenon challenging. He noted the types of smuggling, which include border smuggling, port smuggling, and document smuggling.

His paper also discussed the impacts of smuggling on the economy, including health and social repercussions and ideological (religious) effects. He highlighted policies and measures taken to reduce customs smuggling, including lowering export costs to enhance the competitiveness of national products in foreign markets, eliminating and reducing taxes and fees imposed on exported goods, and encouraging production aimed at exports with added value through manufacturing.

The paper recommended the need to reform the working environment at border crossings and remove random housing and other obstacles in front of these outlets, in addition to regulating permits and exemptions issued by various state institutions that affect professional performance.

A Roadmap to Prevent Customs Smuggling

Colonel Abbas Abdel Qadir Mohamed Ali presented a paper on the General Administration of Customs titled "Customs Smuggling," addressing the legal framework, the powers of customs authorities in combating smuggling, customs control standards and images, export smuggling, causes and motivations for smuggling, its methods and techniques, negative impacts, and means and mechanisms for combating it. He stressed the importance of reviewing legislation that penalizes smugglers and those manipulating state policies in import and export by tightening penalties to be deterrent, and implementing awareness campaigns with partners to inform citizens of the risks arising from prohibited smuggled goods and the damage and disasters they cause to society.

Dr. Yasser Al-Jamiebi, representing the Employers' Federation, discussed aspects of customs crimes and emphasized the need to reduce customs duties on goods and implement economic projects that attract labor, which has increasingly turned to smuggling as a means of livelihood. He stated that combating customs crimes cannot rely solely on awareness or stricter customs procedures but must adopt a comprehensive and integrated developmental plan based on modernizing customs administration to eradicate customs crimes and their underlying causes.

Undoubtedly, such workshops organized by the Ministry of Interior contribute to the government's efforts to curb smuggling and prevent its exacerbation due to its negative impacts on the national economy, especially in the current situation in the country.