Arqin Customs Director: Customs Exemption for Returning Sudanese Nationals’ Personal Effects Revoked

By: Nashwa Ahmed El-Tayeb

Brigadier General Al-Hassan Nasr al-Din, Director of Customs at the Arqin border crossing with Egypt, confirmed that a ministerial decree has been issued revoking the customs exemption previously granted for the furniture and electrical appliances of Sudanese nationals returning home voluntarily. He revealed that customs authorities have received copies of passports belonging to deceased individuals, which were used to bring in commercial goods under the guise of this exemption.

The Director told Sudanhorizon that the decision was issued at the ministerial level—not by the customs authority itself—and that it effectively cancels the exemption for furniture and appliances intended for those returning voluntarily. He suggested that the move was prompted by fraudulent practices, stating: “In my view, some unscrupulous traders have been bringing in goods under the pretext of ‘returning home,’ which has resulted in a significant loss of customs revenue.”

He explained that the core of the issue lies in certain companies attempting to bring in commercial goods through the voluntary return program to take advantage of the exemption. He added that these companies often lash out at customs officials whenever stricter oversight is applied or investigations are launched into the passports being used. “The scale of this is substantial; we have frequently received passports belonging to people who are no longer alive,” he said.
Regarding personal effects that were shipped before the decree was issued but remain stranded at the border crossing, the Director indicated that the assessment of customs duties will be handled on a “discretionary basis.” This will be determined by the Director, taking into account available information, shipping dates, and a review of the cargo manifests.
The director’s statement is part of an in-depth investigation—to be published later , regarding conditions at the Arqin border crossing. The investigation addresses complaints from transport company owners and truck drivers concerning weeks-long congestion, slow administrative procedures, and fires that have destroyed entire shipments of personal belongings belonging to returnees. It also includes the customs authorities’ responses to these grievances.

Shortlink: https://sudanhorizon.com/?p=20142