Customs Officials Pin Contraband Trade On Transport Providers, Owners | The Reporter Ethiopia

Vehicle seizure proposed in draft Customs Proclamation amendment

Officials of the Ethiopian Customs Commission and the Ministry of Finance stated in Parliament this week that transport service providers and the owners of truck and bus fleets are implicated in illicit trade.

The allegations came as lawmakers discussed a proposal to amend the Customs Proclamation in a bid to tighten enforcement against smugglers by applying the seizure of vehicles implicated in contraband trade.

The draft has raised concerns among  members of Parliament’s Budget and Finance Affairs Committee, who worry that the expropriation of vehicles could erode the constitutional right to own property. Committee members also questioned whether the Commission has the prerogative to seize vehicles found transporting illegal goods without the knowledge of the owner.

Azezew Chane, deputy head of the Customs Commission, argued that international practice supports confiscation as a deterrent.

“Drivers might be part of the activity, but we don’t accept the notion that drivers are contrabandists; it has not been our experience,” he told MPs, insinuating that drivers alone cannot orchestrate smuggling operations that often involve heavy trucks and massive volumes of commodities.

“Clearly, drivers may be paid for their service, but they do not have the capacity to finance such operations,” he said. “Drivers are a means; they are being used by contrabandists.”

He cited an example of a fuel truck that had been caught smuggling goods no less than three times, alleging that the owners of trucks deliberately employ drivers to transport illegal goods.

Azezew also told MPs that the Commission lacks the means to address the problem.

“We are working with very low-quality vehicles compared to those used by contraband smugglers,” he noted.

Responding to queries from the Committee, Commissioner Debele Kabata, also emphasized that contraband activities are not merely the actions of drivers but the result of the interests and decisions of vehicle owners.

He confirmed that assessments show the majority of vehicles caught smuggling weapons were operated under the direction of owners.

“Over the last eight years, a growing number of smugglers, mostly vehicle owners working with their drivers, were caught red-handed smuggling illegal goods into Ethiopia. We must act to curb this,” said Debele, endorsing the amendment to the Customs Proclamation.