Baghdad – INA
The head of the Border Ports Authority, Omar al-Waeli, confirmed on Sunday a significant decline in smuggling operations across border crossings as a result of tightened control measures and enhanced field monitoring. He noted that these measures have contributed to a clear increase in revenues, and pointed to the implementation of an integrated strategy to facilitate trade and protect the national economy.
Al-Waeli told the Iraqi News Agency (INA) that "border crossings are subject to smuggling attempts in various forms, but the volume of these operations has witnessed a significant decline in recent years as a result of tightened control measures and enhanced field monitoring."
He added that "the Border Ports Authority has adopted a number of mechanisms to reduce smuggling, most notably automating procedures, activating monitoring systems and cameras, intensifying auditing and detection efforts, as well as continuous coordination with security and regulatory bodies and activating the one-stop shop principle, which contributes to reducing cases of manipulation and corruption."
He pointed out that "the Authority adopts an integrated strategy aimed at achieving a balance between facilitating trade, enhancing oversight, and protecting the national economy. This is accomplished through digital transformation, standardizing procedures, improving employee efficiency, combating administrative and financial corruption, developing infrastructure, and utilizing modern technologies for inspection and detection." He explained that "these measures have resulted in a clear increase in revenues, a reduction in waste and smuggling rates, and faster processing of transactions at border crossings."
He further noted that "there is ongoing coordination between the federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government regarding border crossing management, information exchange, oversight procedures, and the activation of the ASYCUDA system, given that border crossings represent a part of the state's economic sovereignty."