Oct 18, 2012

Somaliland: Government Commended For Clamp-down On Fuel Smuggling


Coordinated efforts undertaken to curb smuggled petroleum products that cause revenue losses and higher vehicle maintenance costs.

Below is an article published by Somaliland Sun:

Smuggled petroleum products have a negative effect on the economy.

The ministry of commerce has termed smuggled fuel as cause of concern for the authorities in relation to lost revenue and increased vehicle maintenance costs.

This is per the minister of commerce Hon Abdirazak Khalif Ahmed who informed, during an interview with Jamhuuriya newspaper that the smuggled petroleum products enter the country through border points in the east and west of the country.

"Apart from the loss of revenue, the smuggled fuel is also dirty thus a headache to transporters and private car owners due to increased maintenance costs" said minister Khalif.

It was revealed that the government had managed to curb the fuel smuggling through coordinated activities between the former finance minister Mohamed Elmi Hashi, Commerce department and security agencies.

Minister Khalif informed that his department is in similar arrangements with Samale, the finance minister who is studying measures to curb the now chronic illegal profusion of petroleum products that is known to be a rampant activity between the Sl-Djibouti borders as well as from Bosaso port in Somalia.

[…]

The upsurge dirty petroleum smuggling is as a direct result of the curtailed Total oil contract that is yet to be replaced despite several suggestions by the national tender board that it is in the process of inviting bids from competent local and foreign companies.