The Anti-Smuggling Department has launched a mega campaign to inform the public about the hazardous effects of smuggling. Oula Farawati reports on how the campaign is convincing the public to report smuggling schemes to the government.

The Anti-Smuggling Department says the “Jordanian citizen,” and not the state coffers was their main concern in combating an ever-rising wave of smuggling.
“This campaign is to inform people of the dangers of smuggling. Smuggled material, even if it is not drugs or arms, is dangerous in most of the cases. That is why it is smuggled and not brought into the country in a legal manner,” director of the Anti-Smuggling Department, Thamen Al Fawwaz said.

Mr. Al Fawwaz explained that most of smuggled goods are usually either phony, expired, or even poisonous.

“Some materials that we managed to apprehend were found to be fatal. The other day, we seized counterfeit heart medicine that causes kidney failure,” he added.
The department is also engaging citizens in its drive to combat this problem because a large percentage of cases that they apprehend were the results of tips from the public. Titled “To protect our future,” the campaign includes a toll-free number that anyone can call at anytime to report smuggling plots, without necessarily revealing their identity.

“Since we started this campaign, people know who to call and the plots we are managing to foil are increasing. So this campaign is working out,” he said.
Official numbers show that the Anti-Smuggling Department has managed to foil 2026 smuggling schemes during 2006. Goods captured vary from gold, car parts, drugs, and satellite receivers to meat, cigarettes, and liquor.  

Mr. Al Fawwaz admits that smuggling is on the rise, despite all the efforts exerted by his department. “The phenomenon is on the rise. Yet we cannot be certain whether it is the smuggling schemes or our efficiency in foiling them that are increasing,” he said. “Smuggling is a problem that top industrial countries in Europe and the U.S. are facing, it is not only us,” he added.

For that reason, the department is continuously looking for ways to boost its efficiency. They have recently been equipped with fast cars, top surveillance appliances, and training programs.

Tax evasion
Smuggling remains a big problem because the top two merchandises that are busted are medicines and cigarettes. “There are two top reasons for smuggling: the goods are either expired, and in that case they could be fatal, or they are very highly taxed, which makes smuggling very feasible,” said Mr. Al Fawwaz.

The high taxes and customs placed on cigarettes and liquor make them very attractive materials for smuggling.
Last year, the department apprehended materials worth JD5 million in lost taxes and customs money, according to Mr. Al Fawwaz. But he noted that these foiled attempts also saved the state coffers some major expenses. “A lot of the material was hazardous. If it was consumed, it would have increased the health bill of the state and rehabilitation expenses. Smuggling never ceases to be a concern for every government department, from health to justice,” he told Jordan Business.

Stiff penalties
The Customs Law includes penalties for “custom evaders and perpetrators.” After confiscating smuggled goods, penalties range from paying fines to prison terms, depending on the crime.

“Smuggling is a crime. This is what we want people to understand. Sometimes people sympathize with smugglers and think that custom tax is only a way to generate money. It is not,” said Mr. Al Fawwaz. Convincing the public of this is not so easy. Al Ghad newspaper recently reported that the department has confiscated 50,000 liters of smuggled gasoline. People commenting on the article mostly lashed out at the department for wanting to “make money” on behalf of “the poor citizens.”  

“We are protecting people’s lives with our work. We are protecting the economy and the Kingdom’s ability to attract investments. Smuggled material can kill,” Mr. Al Fawwaz retorted.

More scrutiny
The department has patrols on all Jordan’s borders points. According to Mr. Al Fawwaz, his department also works closely with the army and the Public Security Department to make sure all borders are well-guarded.

Also, the Customs Department has offices on all borders to check baggage.
One factory owner in Zarqa, however, said so much gets smuggled in because the Customs Department only checks a sample of containers.
“They need to ex amine every single box if they need to stop smuggling. Smuggling is hurting our businesses and they have to be more vigilant to be able to stop it,” said the industrialist, who preferred anonymity.

However, Mr. Al Fawwaz said it was impossible to check everything that comes in. “More than 120 containers pass one border every day. We cannot inspect everything. If we do that, maybe one truck or container will pass the border every day,” he said.

Despite all the efforts, Mr. Al Fawwaz noted, smuggling will remain. However, a combination of public awareness and citizenship responsibility may decrease it.