Jijjiga Customs Seizes 6.3m Br of “Contraband”

Customs officials in Jijjiga reported confiscating 6.3 million Br worth of goods in the first quarter of the 2009/10 fiscal year, 5.5 million Br worth of which were inward bound. The goods that were allegedly smuggled included electronics, spare parts, food stuffs, cosmetics, building materials, medicines, and clothes, while the outward bound goods included khat, fruits, vegetables and livestock. “Our branch office focuses on goods that are imported and exported between Somaliland and Jijjiga and the surrounding areas,” Mengistu Mekonnen, coordinator of legal issues at the branch office of the Ethiopian Revenue and Customs Authority (ERCA) at Jijjiga told Fortune.

Over 20 people had been arrested, tried and sentenced from one year to 10 years in prison, while another five were awaiting trial, he said. The courts were now giving speedier trials for such cases than before. Sentences can go up to a maximum of 10,000 Br in fines and 10 years in prison.

Once goods suspected of being smuggled are seized, they are either sold or burned depending on the items. Perishable items such as vegetables, fruit and livestock are immediately auctioned, according to the official, whereas imported goods, if deemed useful, are sold through the Merchandise, Wholesale and Import Trade Enterprise (MWITE).

“Smuggled goods like cigarettes, medicines and secondhand clothes which are thought to be harmful for the society are burned, the process being observed by a committee formed from the public, the branch office, regional health bureau and the police, Mengistu told Fortune. He added, however, that most of the smugglers and drivers manage to escape even though they are spotted by the customs officials.

The branch is planning to establish 11 additional checkpoints, eight of which are expected to go operational in January. These checkpoints will be at Teferi Ber, Harshen, Gelade, Daror, Gode, Warder, Ferfer and Bare. The branch is planning to launch an awareness raising campaign, which may increase the number of legal traders, Mengistu said which are mostly engaged in exporting to Somaliland.

BY KEMAL HASHI

Addisfortune.com