Over 106 Million Birr worth Contraband Goods Seized in a Week
ADDIS ABABA – Contraband goods worth 106.17 million birr have been intercepted in the past week in a crackdown against illegal trade, Ethiopian Customs Commission (ECC) said on Saturday.
Coffee, iron sheets, cosmetics, electronics, weapons, medicines, clothes, drugs, and foreign currencies dominated the list of items the ECC’S officers seized.
The Commission said goods valued more than 92.8 million birr were apprehended while they were being smuggled into the country.
At the same time, at least 13.3 million birr worth of goods have been captured when they were about to leave the country.
From 11 major checkpoints located across the nation, the commission said three were particularly busy in the crackdown against contraband trade.
Dire Dawa, Akaki Kality, and Jigjiga branches managed to intercept items valued at 25.4 million birr, 16 million birr and 15.6 million birr, respectively, while being smuggled into the nation, it said.
The collaborative effort involving its officers, regional and federal police in collaboration with the public has led to the seizure of the contraband items in the week, said the Commission.
Officials also urged all concerned authorities to continue their efforts against contraband trade in order to effectively respond to its ever changing characteristics and reduce the negative impact it has on Ethiopia’s economy.
