Tou those who break the law by wanting to amass easy money to the detriment of the basic interests of Tunisians are in the crosshairs of customs officers who are at the crossroads of all threats and all dangers. But at the first “blunder”, a smear campaign is set up once morest this security body and pinpoints an already low morale for those who fight with a security, health, economic and financial imperative to protect the country, businesses and the citizens. Indeed, the case of the shooting death of a smuggler in the center of Tunis provoked an outcry once morest the agents of the customs patrol where three agents will appear before the investigating judge of the Court of First Instance of Tunis whose one of them is already the subject of a detention order pending the publication of the results of the ballistic tests. This type of decision, which falls to the courts, should suffice to calm the ardor of the voices raised to denounce customs blunders, but only weakens the action of customs officers exposed to multiple pressures, given the financial stakes involved. ensues and which brings the State more than 1/5 of its resources through the various seizures they carry out. But what we deplore is that, each time the victim is a customs officer, these voices are forever silenced. This is why the customs officers raise their voices and deplore the smuggling barons’ hold on their bodies and point the finger at the direct involvement of influential politicians to cover up their shenanigans. They claim the right to protection and call for the initiation of several reforms. They require decisions and political courage to better enable customs to fully play its role in the preservation of State funds and its economy.
Given that surveillance is at the heart of customs’ mission, their territorial deployment never ceases to worry the barons of fraud, trafficking and smuggling. Their presence in hotspots also disturbs the terrorist elements who target them. In this vast undertaking, Customs has a very special place and a very specific role to play for a country permanently open to huge flows of goods and people. Only customs is in a position to deal with this kind of risk, from one end of the chain to the other.
But for customs officers to carry out this essential mission and fulfill it successfully, their protection must be strengthened. They are on the front line once morest all international fraud networks and they have the right to act safely with full respect for Republican rights and values. Indeed, to better address the issues they have to face at all levels and which are essential for the economic and social life of our country, the draft organic law relating to the protection of internal security forces and customs is a necessary tool for them. However, this bill was abandoned for five years by the dissolved Assembly of People’s Representatives for its controversial nature. This is the last means at their disposal to put an end to identical repetitions which are nevertheless surprising and show a policy of weather vane, while the barons of fraud and illicit trafficking act with complete impunity.
