Customs Nab More Smugglers
By Shareen Han

Bandar Seri Begawan - A Rise in the snuggling of various goods into Brunei has been noted this month as compared to previous months, an official from the Royal Customs and Excise Department said yesterday.

These customs offences mostly involved the smuggling of liquor, tobacco, frozen meat and chicken, and Astro satellite dishes, Hj Bakar Ludin, acting senior superintendent of the department, told The Brunei Times.

The rate of the increase in smuggling cases is not alarming when viewed against monthly figures over the past few years, Hj Bakar said.

The customs official declined to provide actual numbers for the first three weeks of the month but said: "From the monthly statistics, (the number of) customs cases is going up in January, compared to previous months, and there are more foreign offenders than locals."

Hj Bakar said his office is planning to establish a preventative section in Temburong between May and June, noting that "foreigners (are) going in and out easily" through the border there. He added that surveillance was one of the ways that the department is trying to minimise the problem of smuggling in the country.

Meanwhile, Hj Brahim Hj Ismail, permanent secretary at the Ministry of Development, said that the harmful effects of counterfeit and pirated products is worrying because medical and related products can threaten consumers' health.

"I suggest that the Royal Customs and Excise Department and other relevant agencies take appropriate action to preserve the image and safety of our country, so that it will not become a dumping ground for pirated products," he said.

Speaking at the World Customs Day, themed 'No to Counterfeiting and Piracy', Hz Braham has also called on the Royal Customs and Excise officials to observe basic moral principles and civil service work ethics.

"Members of customs department need to answer questions clearly, carry out their investigation duties carefully, as well as avoid conflicting deeds with noble and pure values," he said during the commemoration of World Customs Day yesterday.

"To ensure that the core business (roles) is executed effectively, I understand that the department has underlined the strategic planning for 10 years, beginning from 2006 to 2015," he said.

Pg Abdul Haris Pg Hj Shabudin, Controller of Royal Customs and Excise, said that this year's theme was chosen as part of the commitment to the World Customs Organisation in the battle against the widespread problem of counterfeiting and piracy.

He said that the department is aware that overcoming the problem of counterfeiting and piracy is a big responsibility that requires the public cooperation.

"The responsibility to control the entry of counterfeit and pirated products more effectively is not possible without the cooperation, from other, enforcement agencies and 'stakeholders', specifically the public," he stated.

World Customs Day falls on January 26, but due to a nonworking day on Friday, the Royal Customs and Excise department marked the occasion on Saturday instead. During his two-day visit to Brunei, Minister Shanmugaratnam and his delegation are also scheduled to meet Brunei's second minister of finance.

 -- Courtesy of The Brunei Times

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