Freetown — The National Revenue Authority (NRA's) head of the Gbalamuya Customs post, Daniel Sesay, informed this writer that the post which borders Guinea and Sierra Leone is a major trading hub for thousands of mainly female indigenous Sierra Leonean importers/exporters, and its importance should not be seen in merely statistical revenue terms, but of national security importance, especially given the recent political turmoil in neighboring Guinea.

Sesay said the election in Guinea has somehow adversely affected revenue collection but that things are beginning to pick up.

He bemoaned the number of porous border crossing points in the district, but enthused that there is increasing support from the people who are being sensitized through the local FM radio station. "Even the okada riders in the Kambia district are cooperating with the NRA in ferreting and identifying smugglers," he said.

Sesay commended the PSSD staff stationed in Kambia for having earned the support of the people in combating smuggling. "The Preventive and Special Services Duty Officers are always patrolling most of these crossing points..." he said.

Prince M. Massaquoi, deputy at the Gbalamuya Customs post, praised the Sierra Leone Police who he said have been very supportive in their struggle with smugglers. The Customs officers also praised the NRA senior management for giving them logistics and material support.

Customs, one of the operational departments within the NRA, has been contributing greatly to Sierra Leone's development agenda as it continues to generate hundreds of billions of Leones for the government. As part of NRA's modernization efforts, there has been the introduction of an automated system for customs processes and procedures. The introduction of ASYCUDA has helped in addressing the problems of delay in the clearing of goods and also in reducing contacts between importers and officials of Customs. It has been seen by importers as an encouraging move in facilitating trade.

Customs department under the NRA has key functions, among them: generating revenue for government, ensuring national security and facilitating trade. It has offices in Kambia, Koindu in the Kailahun district and Gendema along the Sierra Leone-Liberia border.