The Customs Department is improving its systems and obtaining new equipment according to the Malta Customs Business Strategy 2020 – 2022.
Living in a globalised world which has experienced a rapid shift to e-commerce, thus an increase in terms of exporting and importing goods, it is of utmost importance to achieve “a balance between the trade facilitation requirements and enforcement obligations,” the report read.
The Customs Department operates to ensure that any items imported and exported are fully compliant with national and EU legal requirements. The aim is to protect government finances and EU own resources by detecting potential tax evasion, tax avoidance and fraudulent activities, as well as protecting society from the illegal importation of controlled, prohibited or restricted goods in the country.
“Having an effective intelligence function is dependent on an efficient data collection mechanism, having the right tools and skilled officials to collate, analyse and disseminate intelligence products in a timely manner,” the report reads.
The department will ensure that the Customs intelligence services (CIS) will this year started operating on a seven-day basis. The report reads that teams within the CIS will start focusing on specific threats identified by the relevant directorates. The report read that the department will ensure that by the second quarter of 2020, assets will be made available to CIS to allow for the gathering of information through covert operations, and have direct access to Europol’s Secure Information Exchange Network Application (SIENA) platform.
CIS will also ensure that from this year the “sharing of information and data within the department will be systematically organised.”
By the end of 2020, the department will “have direct access to the Interpol information platform and will be allocated direct independent access to the Advance Passenger Information and Passenger Name Records API/PNR information.”
The report read that risk management will be assessed and evaluated in order for it to be improved. By the first quarter of 2020 a thorough analysis of all profiles in the workbench was carried out, “however, risk management will be further improved by concluding the implementation of the EU’s Financial Risk Criteria, by compiling a comprehensive report of risk management performance aswell as to automate the risk analysis of transhipment cargo by the end of September 2020.”
In addition, in order to provide a more efficient service to its customers, the department will continue to analyse its process of verification. “In connection with customs declarations, the process will be largely based on a methodology that focuses on pre-clearance verification rather than post-clearance.’”
“Through risk profiling and random selection, the economic operators will be asked to present the documents to Customs and following a thorough analysis, the Customs Officer will decide whether the consignment merits or not a physical inspection.”
With relation to reaching a balance between the requirements of trade facilitation and enforcement obligations at the border, the department will be looking into taking further measures which are to be put in place in the period of 2020 to 2022.
By the first quarter of 2020 the department carried out a number of measures including conducting an internal exercise in order to identify those Customs offices that require access to a new marine vessel tracking system, recruiting another canine and issuing a call for applications for the second Dog instructor, it read.
The system will be further improved: by acquiring a new luggage x-ray van; by distributing all cash control declarations submitted to Customs to relevant stakeholders in real time; by introducing two new x-ray scanning machines and a millimetre-wave body scanner at the Airport’s Arrivals hall; as well as by enhancing scanning capabilities by deploying non-intrusive inspection systems at the Grand Harbour area; by adding and recruiting more canines to the Customs Canine unit; and by exploring the possibility of investing in drug detecting scanners for the department’s stations both at the Airport and at the Parcel Post.
Furthermore, the report read that the department strives in moving towards system-based audits “as they are the most efficient auditing methodology to ensure that the systems of internal control established are properly operating.”
As a multi-functional border agency it is also vital to comprise a strong investigative mechanism in order to identify fraud, money laundering and wrongdoings which are related to criminal activities, the report read. “Therefore, with the use of electronic equipment the department will enhance the new Investigations Unit, seek all the relevant legal cover for the purpose of investigative processes in relation with Customs’ matters and provide qualified and skilled training to staff members.”