Ghadhban: Customs thwarts smuggling

Mohammed Ghadhban, former head of Customs Union, said that the smuggling has increased significantly due to its large revenue and the deterioration of the regional situation.

Ghadhban added that the smuggling depends on entering goods randomly without checking at the authorized checkpoints or without having the required permits whether on the land, sea or air border crossings, noting that the Customs Authority is keen to face violation of law in terms of the value, quantity or nature of the products.

He pointed out that the smuggling is a kind of money laundering, stressing that the Customs Authority should control roads and warehouses to track the smuggled products, notably weapons and ammunition.

He noted that the phenomenon of smuggling affects the state treasury, consumers and the economy. It also represent a real threat to national security as the smuggling contributes to financing extremism, and provide terrorist groups with ammunition and weapons.

He pointed out that the Customs Authority managed to thwart many smuggling operations including weapons, ammunition and radioactive materials.

Ghadban suggested to create a national commission to combat smuggling, informal trade and piracy. This commision would develop scientific strategies by studying smuggling currents that vary from one group to the other, noting that the number of smugglers in Tunisia is estimated at 1,200 smuggler.