Customs Enforcement
CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT
Their primary objective of Customs & Excise Enforcement is National Security in the areas of importation of arms and armaments, food and drugs among other things and activities within and around the borders of the country that may undermine national security and security of the nation. At the beginning, Customs and Excise Department’s Enforcement Unit has been active in the areas of detection of smuggling of illegal and contraband goods into the country, especially using entry points other than the designated ports of entry. Their responsibilities also include ensuring that they follow customs officers are executing their duties without fear, favour or ill-will.
The Enforcement Unit is divided into 3 sub-units: namely the The Intelligence and Investigations Unit, The Post-Clearance Audit Unit and the Mobile Brigade.
1. Intelligence and Investigations Unit: The role of this unit is primarily surveillance, information gathering and intelligence processing and investigations. The intelligence reports and results of investigation may be used as basis for Post- Clearance Audit or Mobile Brigade action. They keep profiles of Registered Businesses that do not always comply with legal requirements. This unit relies on the good will of the citizenry to also get vital information to stop crime even before it is committed.
2. Post Clearance Audit Unit: This unit is charged with the responsibility of ensuring that all transactions with Customs and Excise Department are done accordingly with the clearance procedures legally required by the department. Their domain covers auditing of paperwork and computerisation of all Customs transactions, from shipping and other cargo movement details, to clearance, storage and disposal of merchandise, for Customs purposes. The results of their auditing exercise can be used for investigations by the Intelligence and Investigations Unit and/or seizures, preparation of case files for offenders etc, by the Mobile Brigade, and can be great source of information and evidence for the Legal Unit of the GRA.
3. Mobile Brigade Unit: This unit has the responsibility, among others, to re-enforce the borders in terms of man-power when and where necessary, monitor production, sale and movement of goods within the country with a view to ensure security in terms of the economy (revenue), health (food and drugs) and safety (control of arms and armaments). Therefore, they have powers to stop, search without warrant (when necessary), arrest and detain, seize, prosecute (with the assistance of the legal unit), and compound cases, when there is sufficient reason to belief that a Customs offence has been committed. These responsibilities entail a lot of questioning naturally and therefore we beg the patience of the public to bear with us so that together we can ensure a peaceful and conducive atmosphere for economic development both in terms of human and material resources.
Today’s world and its technological advancement has given a new and complex dimension to crime (especially economic crime). Therefore, issues like money laundering, intellectual property rights (IPR), identify fraud etc are gradually taking centre-stage in enforcement efforts to combat crime. The Mobile Brigade and its sister enforcement units are trying to explore every opportunity to ensure they are reasonably equipped to face this menace, and we are relying on the support of the good citizens of this country. Together we can build a great nation. Let us enforce (RE-ENFORCE).