Bandar Seri Begawan - Students from six primary schools around the vicinity of Pekan Muara yesterday got an in-depth understanding of the mission and functions of the Royal Customs and Excise Department in a Customs exhibition held at the Muara Library.

The exhibition was held in conjunction with the World Customs Day, which is celebrated every January 26 and also part of this year's activities of the Language and Literature Bureau.

It was stated in the display that the vision of the Royal Customs and Excise Department is to strengthen peace, prosperity and well-being of the nation while the missions are to help maintain the security of the country, ease trade and increase revenue collection.

The functions of the- department are to enforce the rules and regulations of Customs and Excise, to ease the procedure for trade, and to manage and increase revenue collection, enforcement and control, management and development in human resources.

Also on display is the condition of importation of liquors legally whereby it is stated that a person bringing in the liquor must be 17 years old and above, is a non-Muslim, and must enter Brunei legally, and-bringing in liquors not less than 48 hours since the last importation.

The alcohol can only be stored and consumed in the residence of the person who imports the alcohol legally and the alcohol cannot be transferred or given or sold to another person. The importer must produce the alcoholic form to the proper customs officer on duty.

On exhibit was also the Customs (Amendment) Order 2008 as well as the power given to the Royal Customs and Excise Department under the order to investigate, search and stop any suspicious vehicles as well as to arrest without warrant.

There were also pictures of interesting places where the contraband was found hidden in the old customs cases.

--Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin