ministry of finance national customs agency seminar addressing the links between organized crime and...
TRANSCRIPT
MINISTRY OF FINANCE NATIONAL CUSTOMS AGENCY
Seminar “Addressing the links between Organized Crime and Corruption”
27 February – 1 March 2013, Blagoevgrad
Plamen Velkov – chief expert,
Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate, National Customs Agency
The prevention of and counteraction to the corruption and the maintenance
of highly professional standards and integrity of the customs officers is a priority
objective of the National Customs Agency.
In this respect the Agency follows a zero tolerance policy towards any acts of
corruption or any other illegal actions of the officers. The measures applied along
these lines cover all aspects of the administration’s activity – from the selection
and appointment of new officers, initial and subsequent training, the control
carried out by the managers at all levels in the Agency on the activity of their
subordinate officers, to carrying out internal inspections and conducting
disciplinary proceedings.
PREVENTION OF AND COUNTERACTION TO CORRUPTION
ORGANIZATION AND CONTROL OF LEGAL REQUIREMENTS FULFILLMENT
According to Article 10, par. 6 of the Customs Act upon their appointment,
discharge and annually until 31. May the customs officers are obliged to
declare the properties owned by them and the properties owned by their
family’s members.
Upon their appointment the customs officers shall lodge a declaration
regarding the circumstances under Article 10, par. 1 and 2 of the Customs
Act /the customs officers are not allowed to act as sole traders, to sign
additional employment agreements, to have a hierarchical relation of
management and control with their husband or wife or direct line of descent
relatives/.
The customs officers shall also lodge a declaration according to the Conflict of
Interest Prevention and Ascertainment Act.
Upon their appointment the customs officers shall sign a declaration providing
that they are aware of the standards of the Customs Officer behavior Code
/approved by the Minister of finance/ and in case of non-observance of the
standards the officers bear disciplinary responsibility.
STRUCTURAL REFORM
As a result of the reform carried out in the period 2009 - 2012 the structure of the
National Customs Agency was optimized as the number of customs officers
appointed was reduced from 4003 to 3337.
A whole level of the structure was removed – the Regional Customs Directorates.
The number of Customs Houses was reduces from 17 to 10.
In order to improve the management of human resources and to prevent and
counteract to corruption 2 new departments were created in Organization and
Management of Human Resources Directorate, Central Customs Directorate –
Methodology, Selection and Career Development Department and Professional
Standards and Internal Investigation Department which took over the functions of
the Inspectorate of the National Customs Agency closed since 1. September 2010.
This structural changes had a double effect – the distance between the management
of the Agency and the executive officers was shortened and the available financial
resources were used for the purpose of increase of the individual salary of the
officers in order to ensure higher life standard as an additional anti-corruption
measure.
OPERATIONAL MEASURES
In the middle of 2010 HCS Integrity Check was introduced for selection of the staff in the National Customs Agency in order to limit the corruption practices in the system. This check could identify if a job applicant or an official tends to commit insignificant or serious offences of the regulations and the discipline.
The training course of the newly appointed officials includes a module related to the prevention of and counteraction to corruption and other illegal actions of the staff, as well as conflict of interest. Training in this matter is also organized for the rest of the staff, also by the Institute of Public Administration.
New Guidelines for establishment of disciplinary offences and conducting of
disciplinary proceedings in the National Customs Agency are elaborated and introduced.
OPERATIONAL MEASURES
Internal verifications and investigations are carried out regarding alerts for possible irregularities committed by customs officers received in the Agency;
Disciplinary proceedings are started and conducted against officers who have committed disciplinary offences. Where data on offences committed by customs officers is established, competent authorities shall be informed;
Internal verifications on the property of customs officers are carried out;
The activity of customs officers is subject of a daily control;
Constantly, working meetings on prevention of and counteraction to corruption are organized in all Customs Houses with the participation of officials from Professional Standards and Internal Investigations Department at the Organization and Management of the Human Resources Directorate, Central Customs Directorate.
OPERATIONAL MEASURES
Anonymous inquiries are being carried out on travelers and carriers crossing
through the Border Crossing Points, as well as on business sector
representatives (also representatives of NGO’s take part to the inquiries – e.g.
Transparency International - Bulgaria). The purpose is to obtain information
regarding the activities of the customs administration, including if any
corruption practices.
An electronic Work Place Determination System was introduced at the Customs
Border Crossing Points. The system rotates the operational customs officers at
different work places – monthly the officer’s shift changes and at the beginning
of each shift the officers are being randomly allocated at different work places.
On the web site of the Agency there is a “hotline” and e-mail indicated in order
to receive alerts related to possible illegal acts of customs officers. Post boxes
for alerts and recommendations are located at visible place in each Customs
Office.
RESULTS ACHIEVED
During 2012 a total number of 139 controls and internal investigations were carried out. As
a result 60 disciplinary punishments were imposed on customs officers including 22
dismissals.
Incompatibility with regard to Article 10 of the Customs Act was established regarding 14
customs officers. The employment relationships/contracts with them were respectively
terminated.
Property checks of 16 customs officers were carried out. In one of the cases the National
Revenue Agency was approached in order the relevant verification to be carried out.
Regarding one of the files the Commission for Prevention and Ascertainment of Conflict of
Interests was approached. Providing for that there was data available about committed
crimes, 9 alerts were sent to the Prosecutors Office as the customs authorities have no
powers to investigate crimes related to Criminal Code when the crime has been committed
by an official in direct connection with the customs service.
Natural and legal persons sent 28 messages about customs officers illegal acts by the
“hotline” for receiving of alerts. In all of the cases the relevant actions were undertaken.
During 2012 a total number of 232 persons crossing through the
customs points Lesovo and Malko Tarnovo were inquired for the
purposes of completion of the tasks laid down in the six-months
Schedules of government’s and judicial authorities’ urgent measures
and activities on covering the progress criteria in the areas of judicial
reforms, fight against corruption and organized crime. The results of
these inquiries give reasons to be considered that at the customs
points there are no corruption practices associated with the activity of
the customs administration, but it is necessary the relevant managers
– heads of customs points and shift leaders to carry out constant
control on the activities of their subordinates.
RESULTS ACHIEVED
LEGISLATIVE, ADMINISTRATIVE AND ORGANIZATIONAL MEASURES ENSURING
PARTICULAR RESULTS
During the last several years significant investments were made in order
to ensure the necessary technical equipment and modernize the available
technical means;
Two fixed systems for container scanning were bought for Varna and
Burgas ports;
Two of the available x-ray systems allocated at the EU external land
frontiers were modernized;
6 high energy mobile x-ray systems were provided. Two of them are
located at EU external borders and 4 are located on the main roads in the
country;
Location of X-RAY systems by Customs Houses
HCVMHCVM
Cab 2000A
THSCAN MT1213DE
HCVM
HCVP
HCVP
SScan M300
ZBV
SScan M300
HCVM THSCAN MT1213DE
Cab 2000A
In relation to the investigating customs inspectors activities 10 specialized
mini-busses were bought and for the purposes of the operational control at the
Customs Houses 30 high road-ability vehicles were provided;
Six customs dogs were trained to detect tobacco products at the Customs
Canine training school in town Balchik;
24/7 coordination centers were created at central and territorial level, as well
as “X-ray systems” units where officers with technical education had been
appointed;
Customs Intelligence and Investigation divisions are equipped with modern
means for surveillance and control. The operational units are provided with
GPS devices and the coordination centers carry out real time surveillance.
LEGISLATIVE, ADMINISTRATIVE AND ORGANIZATIONAL MEASURES ENSURING
PARTICULAR RESULTS
Technical equipment and customs dogs.
The newly appointed officer undergo a seven-months training course, as well
as different specific trainings depending on the tasks performed by them /X-
Ray systems courses, work in operational teams, sample taking etc.
As of April 2013 a new information system will be functional – Bulgarian
Centralized Excise Information System. It combines the functionalities of all
existing systems in the excise area and allows automation of all business
processes and enhances the electronic exchange with the trade sector.
The human factor will be significantly reduced by achieving high level of
automation of the administration and control of the excise goods related
activities. This is an important condition for the limitation of the corruption
pressure on the business.
LEGISLATIVE, ADMINISTRATIVE AND ORGANIZATIONAL MEASURES ENSURING
PARTICULAR RESULTS
EXAMPLES OF SIGNIFICANT CASES
AND SOME CONCEALMENT METHODS
WITHIN EU INTERNAL BORDERS
USING ROAD/RAILWAY TRANSPORT
Vidin ferry - On 12/02/2011 seized quantity of
cigarettes
450 000 pcs - Transported goods: flour, napkins,
sugar products and perfumes.
Border check point Kulata on 03/05/2012 – seized
quantity
of cigarettes 980 000 pcs. Transported goods
Reinforcing steel.
Border check point
Ilinden
on 14.03.2011 - seized
quantity of cigarettes
3 930 000 pcs.
Border check point Kulata
on 11.05.2011 - seized quantity of cigarettes
2 400 000 pcs. Transported goods -
snails
Border check point Kulata
01.05.2012 - seized
quantity of cigarettes
4 850 000 pcs.
Transported goods - lentils
Border check point
Kulata
on 29.11.2010 - seized
quantity of cigarettes
3 030 000 pcs.
Border check point Kulata
02.11.2010 - seized quantity
of cigarettes - 5 155 000
pcs. Transported goods
Insulating panels
Railway station Border
check point Kulata
22.04.2012 seized
quantity of cigarettes –
4 000 000 pcs.
Transported goods –
perlite of marble
Railway station Border check
point Kulata on 26.06.2011
seized quantity of cigarettes –
9 800 000 pcs. Transported
goods – perlite of marble
Customs office Ruse - 65.751 kg cocaine seized on 06.05.2012 concealed in a metal box with
35mm wall thickness fitted inside the combine.
4 202 kg hashish – Vidin Ferry on
01.07.2012 - the largest quantity of
narcotics, seized by Bulgarian
Customs Officers for the last 15
years.
Customs Administration seizes contraband cigarettes and packages for their illegal
production.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION !