Customs smuggling: a cancer eating away at the Sudanese economy – Something for the Homeland – ✍️ Mr. Salah Ghariba
Customs smuggling in Sudan represents an endemic scourge that feeds on the pillars of the national economy and negatively affects all aspects of life. What are the dimensions of this problem and how is it leading to the deterioration of economic conditions? What solutions are proposed to deal with this?
Calling customs smuggling a “betrayal of the homeland” is not an exaggeration, but rather a tangible reality. Through this crime, the State is deprived of enormous financial revenues which would have contributed to the financing of development and infrastructure projects, as well as the provision of basic services to citizens. This also leads to the spread of adulterated and harmful goods, endangering the health and safety of consumers.
Many reasons contribute to the spread of the phenomenon of customs smuggling in Sudan, and they can be summarized in the harsh economic conditions that force many citizens to resort to smuggling as a means of earning a living, especially in light of the high level Unemployment and poverty rates, in addition to the lack of effective control at borders and customs ports, and the complicity of certain workers in these agencies, facilitate smuggling operations, the spread of administrative corruption in certain state institutions weakening their capacity. the fight against smuggling, and the dispersion of responsibilities between the authorities responsible for combating smuggling leads to poor coordination and facilitation of smuggling operations, and the growing demand for cheap products also contributes, especially in light of prices high, to encourage smuggling operations.
The phenomenon of customs smuggling has disastrous effects on the Sudanese economy, notably the decline in public revenue, due to a significant drop in customs revenue, which weakens the capacity of the State to finance its budget. Smuggling causes markets to be flooded with cheap contraband goods. , which weakens the competitiveness of local industries and leads to a decline in industrial production, thereby increasing unemployment rates, which exacerbates social and economic problems. The decrease in public revenue also leads to a delay in the implementation of development projects, which negatively affects. the country's infrastructure. Smuggling leads to an increase in the supply of goods, which may lead to lower prices in the short term, but in the long term it leads to market imbalance and higher prices.
To confront this dangerous phenomenon, a set of comprehensive and decisive measures must be taken, including strengthening control at borders and customs ports through the use of the latest technologies and detection devices, training of executives working in this area and the application of specific inspection procedures for people. and goods. Firmly combat administrative corruption, apply dissuasive sanctions to those involved in smuggling operations and activate the role of regulatory agencies. Modernize customs regulations and laws to keep pace with global developments, simplify customs procedures to encourage legitimate trade, strengthen cooperation with neighboring countries to combat cross-border smuggling, exchange intelligence, provide necessary support to local industries to enabling them to be competitive, and offering an attractive investment environment, while raising citizens' awareness of the harmful effects of smuggling on the national economy, and urged them to cooperate with the competent authorities to combat this phenomenon.
Combating customs smuggling requires the combined efforts of all parties: the government, citizens and the private sector, because smuggling is not just an economic problem, but rather a threat to national security and social stability. By taking the necessary steps, Sudan can make tangible progress in combating this phenomenon and protecting its economy and the future of its generations.
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