Customs enforcement is concerned with the protection of society and fighting trans-national organized crime based on the principles of risk management. In discharging this mandate, Customs enforcement services are involved in a wide range of activities relating to information and intelligence exchange, combating commercial fraud, counterfeiting, the smuggling of highly taxed goods (especially cigarettes and alcohol), drug trafficking, stolen motor vehicles, money laundering, electronic crime, smuggling of arms, nuclear materials, toxic waste and weapons of mass destruction. Enforcement activities also aim to protect intellectual and cultural property and endangered species of plants and animals.

In order to assist its Members improve the effectiveness of their enforcement efforts and achieve a balance between control and facilitation, the WCO has developed a comprehensive technical assistance and training programme. In addition, it has established Regional Intelligence Liaison Offices (RILOs) that are supported by a global database, the Customs Enforcement Network (CEN), to facilitate the exchange and use of information.

The WCO has also developed instruments for international co-operation in the form of the revised Model Bilateral Agreement (MBA), the Nairobi Convention which provides for mutual administrative assistance in the prevention, investigation and repression of Customs offences, and the Johannesburg Convention which provides for mutual administrative assistance in Customs matters. The WCO’s Customs Control and Enforcement programme therefore aims to promote effective enforcement practices and encourage co-operation among its Members and with its various competent partners and stakeholders.

In the context of the priorities laid down in the Strategic Plan, which are defined by the Members, the WCO is currently giving priority to other major new initiatives, one of them being the security and facilitation of the international trade supply chain

World trade stakeholders recognize that international trade is an essential driver for economic prosperity. The global trading system is vulnerable to terrorist exploitation that could severely damage the entire world economy.

As government authorities that control and administer the international movement of goods, Customs administrations are in a unique position to provide increased security to the global trade supply chain and to contribute to socio-economic development through revenue collection and trade facilitation. For these reasons, it was imperative for the WCO to develop a strategy that would secure the movement of global trade in a way that does not impede but, on the contrary, facilitates the movement of this trade.

WORKING ON THE TEXT

Ex.1. SKIMMING:

a. Read the headline and the first sentence of each paragraph of the text. Pair up to discuss the topic of the article.

b. Read the first paragraph and the last paragraph of the text. Then work in pairs to discuss the contents of the piece.

c. Read the text. Get into pairs to discuss the contents of the piece.

Ex.2. SCANNING:

a. While scanning the text find the answers for content-specific questions given by the teacher.

b. While scanning the text pick out the sentences containing the key words given by the teacher.

Ex.3. READING: Read and translate the text “What is Customs enforcement and compliance”.

Ex.4. VOCABULARY: Circle the words you do not understand. In groups, pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.

Ex.5. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try to recall how they were used in the text:

Ex.6. CHAT: In pairs / groups, decide which of these topics or words from the text are necessary for the text rendering.

Ex.7. GOOGLE SEARCH: Find in the Internet additional information on the WCO’s Customs Control and Enforcement Programme.

Ex.8. WRITING: Write about the Customs Enforcement and Compliance for 10 minutes. Correct your partner’s paper.

Ex.9. WRITING AN ESSAY: Write an essay on the topic “Customs Enforcement and Compliance”, using additional information.

Ex.10. SPEAKING: Speak on the topic.

GRAMMAR REVISION