In the first nine months of this year, the Customs Service has charged over 12.4 billion lei in the state budget, with 1 billion lei more than the same period last year. The volume of income received, and other results of the reforms started in the customs were presented today during a review meeting chaired by the Director General of Customs, Vitalie Vrabie.

The payments from VAT administration hold the largest share in the income structure, which is 68-per-cent followed by 23-per-cent and excise duties which contribute 6-per-cent.

An enhancement of performance indicators is recorded in the fraud, marking a significant increase by about 50%, the detection rate of customs fraud. The most common violations are present in tobacco products, non-declaration of goods and reduce the customs value.

A result of increased activity fraud, in the reference period were thwarted 226 attempts to smuggle tobacco products, being detained in total 3.14924 million cigarettes or 1.12648 million (+ 55-per-cent) more than in the same period of year previous.

In the same period, the value of undeclared goods increased by 83-per-cent, representing 90 million lei.

Also additional import duties amounting 211.6 million lei have been charged.

Another important achievement in the reform measures initiated is the new organizational chart that provide merging seven customs offices and the creation of three offices: North, Central and South, and the number of employees will be reduced to 1518 units compared to 1728 currently. A draft Government Decision to this effect has been submitted to the Executive for approval, following the new classification scheme to be implemented by the end of this year.

Among the efforts to streamline the work include Government approval of new regulations on intellectual property protection and that the declaration of customs value of goods. However, since August 17th, Customs Service has a new code of ethics of the customs officer, adjusted to international standards of integrity.

"The results presented show that the Customs Service continues to register on a positive note, which confirms the institution's ability to implement announced reforms and generate major changes throughout the customs system." , said Vitalie Vrabie in his speech.