By Okey IROEGBU
The media could not write much on the recent Global Conference on Cooperation in Enforcement matters which has in attendance top echelon of the Nigeria Customs Enforcement cadre recently in India. It was during a recent press briefing that the Customs Area Controller of Federal Operations Unit, Zone 'A', DC Hussein Kehinde Ejibunu commented that the conference which had Nigerian delegation as the only Africans had more than 75 delegates whose countries are members of the World Customs Organisation (WCO) taking part in the 3-day high powered session in New Delhi Nigeria Customs Service delegation was led by DCG, E, I&I,
Mohammed Abba- kura while others are the CAC of Federal Operations Units, Zones ‘A’ Ikeja, DC Ejibunu and the CAC of FOU, Zone C, Owerri, Kayode Rasheed Kolade. Over 40 Custom Administrations/Organizations participated in the inaugural Global Conference on Cooperation in Enforcement Matters GCCEM. Information reaching this media confirmed that the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) under Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), in consultation with World Customs Organisation (WCO), Brussels hosted the global conference which held from 30th October to 1st November 2023 with the theme “It takes a Network to fight a Network.” The aim of the international conference is to facilitate sharing of insights, best practices and to serve as a catalyst for enhancing collaboration with Indian Customs’ partner Administrations and for building new partnerships. The WCO also collaborated with Indian Customs to ensure wide participation by Member Administrations and international organizations, including WCO’s Regional Intelligence Liaison Offices (RILOs) and senior representations from the WCO Secretariat. At the invitation of India’s Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), Dr. Kunio Mikuriya, WCO Secretary General, participated in the (GCCEM), hosted by the CBIC in New Delhi, India. The WCO was instrumental in developing the conference’s programme, highlighting its dedication to enhancing collaborative efforts in global customs enforcement. The conference opened with a keynote address by H.E. Nirmala Sitharaman, Minister of Finance of India. The Minister highlighted the urgent need to combat various forms of illicit trade by leveraging collective wisdom and collaborative efforts. Dr. Mikuriya drew upon the G20 India’s overarching theme of “One Planet, One Family, One Future” and elaborated on how the Customs community could contribute to this vision by sharing knowledge, strengthen networking and prepare for the future generation. He talked about the evolving trade landscape, focusing on digitalization, data analytics, e-commerce, and underscored the need to strengthen inter-agency and cross-sectorial collaboration in data exchange and risk management. Over the course of the three-day conference, the GCCEM addressed a broad spectrum of emerging risks, including narcotics trafficking, tobacco smuggling, wildlife trade, money laundering, and innovative methods employed in disrupting supply chains and exploiting e-commerce platforms. The discussions, reflecting the sub-theme “It takes a network to fight a network”, provided a valuable platform for participants from various regions to share knowledge and experience and engaged in networking. In a series of high-level bilateral engagements, Dr. Mikuriya sought to reinforce and extend partnerships. Notably, in his meeting with Ms. Ivonne Higuero, CITES Secretary-General, there was a mutual commitment to further enhance cooperation in the framework of ICCWC (International Consortium on Combating Wildlife Crime). His dialogue with Mr. Sanjay Kumar Agarwal, Chairman of CBIC, covered a broad array of pressing issues. Dr. Mikuriya expressed gratitude for Mr. Agarwal’s support in enhancing the WCO CEN visualization and the Data and Statistics Working Group, and explored further avenues for continued and expanded cooperation. According to the Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman who presided as Chief Guest of the inaugural session of the first ever three-day-long global conference, “the first Global Conference on Cooperation in Enforcement Matters (GCCEM) will benefit world economy through networking and collaborative effort by the law enforcement agencies.” He further acknowledged that the origin of the GCCEM lay in the suggestion made in her last year address at the Inaugural function of DRI Foundation Day in 2022, emphasizing on the importance of greater cooperation and collaboration among international enforcement agencies for timely intelligence sharing. The Union Finance Minister observed that Customs has two important facets, which are Facilitation and Enforcement, these should be the core functions of Customs and enforcement agencies. She suggested that officers must remain dedicated, make use of technology, share information and actionable intelligence with domestic and international agencies to create deterrence to illicit trade and Transnational Syndicates. The experience of agencies would show the direction and path to curb the evils in international trade.
Smt. Sitharaman also acknowledged the role of World Customs Organisation in anchoring the sharing of knowledge between Customs enforcement agencies across the world and emphasized brainstorming into the requirement of further legislative and procedural improvements in various countries for fighting the menace of illicit trade. In his address on the occasion, Union Minister of State for Finance Shri Pankaj Chaudhary mentioned the challenges of the faster and newer developments in technology, including use of Artificial Intelligence. Shri Chaudhary emphasized that in the era of
Artificial intelligence, the importance of intelligence sharing and increased collaboration amongst international agencies is more relevant. Also on the occasion, Shri Sanjay Malhotra, Secretary, Department of Revenue, Government of India, stated the economic effects of smuggling as also it’s social and national security ramifications. Shri Malhotra mentioned that the fast-evolving modern digital world has blurred the boundaries of nation states and has created a daunting challenge for enforcement agencies across the world. Shri Malhotra laid stress on the requirement of maintaining a balance between enforcement and trade facilitation which are important for ease of trade, increasing competitiveness and reducing cost to customer.While, Shri M.K. Singh, Principal Director General, DRI, gave vote of thanks to all the guests and delegates along with the team of officials and staff of CBIC for making the event possible.The knowledge acquired are already reflecting in the level of anti-smuggling operations here in Nigeria. The approach to the yuletide that is associated with serious smuggling has drastically reduced. On illicit drug smuggling which was on the rise recently were seriously dealt with.
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