Friday, March 10, 2023, was the delayed celebration of International Customs Day (IDD). Occasionally, Benin Customs takes stock.

548 billion FCFA were mobilized by Beninese customs services during 2022 according to information from Alain Hinkati, Director General of Customs. Compared to the results of the previous year, which amounted to 440 billion CFA francs, customs recorded an increase of 108 billion CFA. According to the patron of discipline of Saint Mathieu, “there has in fact been a renouncement of the collection of customs duties and taxes on certain consumer products, in this case hydrocarbons. When we take into account the amount of revenue losses caused by these measures, which amounts to 102 billion CFA francs, the level of customs revenue in 2022 would amount to 649 billion CFA, representing an implementation rate of 120.51% and an increase of more than 200 billion compared to 2021.”

Also, other remarkable actions were carried out during the same year in other aspects of Customs missions. It is about protecting the national economy and securing the supply chain. With regard to seizures of prohibited products, Beninese customs have intercepted nearly 4500 kg of Indian hemp, 30,000 kg of pharmaceutical products; and 59,000 kg of smuggled agricultural inputs.