In a world where terrorist acts seem bent on creating havoc and destruction everywhere, we would be imprudent to think that our country is immune from terrorism . One of the barriers to prevent such infiltration on our soil is the customs. Unfortunately, up to now, immigration control appears to be the «chasse-gardée» of the police department. Indeed, more often than not, precious intelligence information on some undesirable visitors available to immigration officers is not passed-on to customs officers. I have personally seen customs officers begging vainly for such information from their immigration “colleagues”; and finally, resorting to peeking over the latter’s shoulders to catch a desperate glimpse of data found on the IO’s computers. Intelligence information, training in detection of false and falsified passports are important; and, no doubt, our IO’s are fully equipped in these areas. But what they lack is the “flair” acquired by customs officers through daily contacts with foreigners, boarding their vessels in the harbour, searching their luggage at the port and airport, questioning them. My plea is that, instead of considering it as a jealously guarded prerogative of the police, immigration should be one of the main concerns of the customs department too.

A few years back we had rumours of arms, ammunition, and even nuclear warheads illegally transiting our shores for foreign destinations. More recently, there was talk of a container of dangerous weapons disappearing from within our port area. Whether there was any substance or not in these rumours, I cannot say . But I do have many reasons to so believe that dangerous weapons have successfully been smuggled into Mauritius. That such an amount of weapons penetrated through the customs net implies organised smuggling, inefficient customs control or, more probably, connivance from within the department.

Is the post-Cunningham customs, with its scanners, and sniffer-dogs any better? At first sight, one would be inclined to think so . But it would be unwise to be content with the measures taken and relax vigilance. War against smuggling, weapons and drugs trafficking is an on-going process that allows no easing of alertness. Criminals and traffickers are always one step ahead of the authorities. The MRA-customs would be wise to realize that Mauritus is an island with too many coves and inlets throughout where a yacht can silently anchor and land, unmolested, what-ever is on board, without the authorities being any the wiser.

<B>Drug smuggling</B>

Mr Cunningham seems to be proud of the few seizures his officers have effected at the airport, of the installation of a container-scanner at the port, and of the acquisition by his department of sniffer-dogs. Without grudging him his satisfaction, we would, nevertheless, like to ask him how there has been a constant rise in the amount of drugs available in every nook and corner of Mauritius, in our children’s schools and colleges, even within the walls of our high-security prisons in the last three years? Apart from the less-harmful gandia, no drug is produced in Mauritius. Practically all drugs are imported. And imports mean through customs. Either his department, together with its drugs unit and other pompous-named sections, is totally incompetent where drug-trafficking is concerned, or his officers are all corrupted and in connivance with the traffickers, or, alternately and excusably, Mr Cunningham is not aware that the port and airport are not the only entry-channels for smuggling. As said above, our island has a lot of coves and inlets where drugs could be landed from leisure boats and yachts. Officially all vessels arriving in Mauritius are law-bound to report to the customs preventive branch at the Port Louis harbour. Do they? Who is to prevent a small boat coming from South Africa or Madagascar from silently creeping its way to Black River, Baie du Tombeau or Cap Malhereux, without first reporting at the Preventive Branch , and landing its cargo there ?

There was a time when PM Anerood Jugnauth was leading the war against the drug-barons, and before the present “mo-dern” customs administration came into place, when the drug unit of the CIU used to patrol the coasts at all times, day and night. Suspected vessels were kept under watch long before they entered the harbour and any suspicious movement or activity in their vicinity was investigated. Good use was made of the powers vested by the Customs Act to enter and search suspected premises and seized illicit products found therein. All that when there were only very limited and very meager means and tools available at the customs. Incidentally , the use of the powers mentioned above by the customs had another positive result: the corrupt officers of other departments could not guarantee “protection”to their protegés - traffickers — the customs could at any time unexpected make a “landing”!

While so far drug trafficking has been a matter of making big money, we would be well advised to look at it from another new «developing» angle, a means to finance terrorist activities. This is already happening elsewhere. Terrorism demands big funding. Banks, hold-ups and other robberies and drug-trafficking are major providers of these funds.

It is imperative that we join and harness all our energy and competence to fight against drugs and arms trafficking. Cutting down these two is synonymous with amputating the two limbs of terrorism. Customs is the ideal body to lead this war. This department should be provided with the necessary equipment, tools and means. If necessary, some of the hitherto unused or timidly used powers of the coast guards and the police should be vested in customs.

It is no longer a question of drugs or arms trafficking only — it is also, and mainly, a question of national security.

<B>Jagdish SEEBARUTH</B>