The amounts collected by the Customs Service in the first half of this year rose by about 10%. Of the total sum collected, 7.602 billion lei represented import duties, which increased by 684 million lei compared with the corresponding period last year. The data were presented in a summing up meeting, IPN reports.

The rise in the collected amounts and in the customs fraud discovery rate and the professionalization of the customs system employees are among the main reported results. The Customs Service also instituted rigorous control over brokerage activity and bonded warehouses where particular violations were discovered.

More than 2,000 attempts to violate the customs legislation were discovered in the first six months of this year. The customs fraud discovery rate rose by 55% compared with the corresponding period last year. Among the most frequent violations are the smuggling of tobacco products, non-declaration of property or diminution of value of goods in customs.

The certification of the customs system employees revealed that about 10% of the 505 employees assessed so far have insufficient training, but there is also a category of employees with a high level of professionalism, who are to be stimulated.

Customs Service director Vitalie Vrabie said the institution will be reorganized by optimization, with a transfer of powers and responsibilities from the administrative level to customs offices and posts. There will be staged specialization and skill improvement courses for the largest part of the employees.

Among the accomplishments achieved in the area are the introduction of ‘green corridors’ at four of the most popular customs posts, development of the Integrated Customs Tariff and of the conception of recognition of Authorized Economic Operators of the EU and the approval by the executive of the new regulations concerning the protection of intellectual property and, respectively, of the value in customs.