MBABANE – Regional Customs officials are gathered in Eswatini to discuss narcotics trafficking, e-commerce revenue risks, AEO harmonisation and integrity reforms shaping regional border management cooperation efforts.
Eswatini is, for the first time, hosting the World Customs Organisation (WCO) Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA) Regional Steering Group (RSG) Meetings, a high-level gathering of Customs administrations drawn from across the region.
The 42nd Session of the RSG began yesterday at the Hilton Garden Inn and will continue until tomorrow, with member States discussing a series of emerging trade, enforcement and institutional challenges affecting border management and regional integration.
At the centre of deliberations are four critical themes: Combating narcotics trafficking; responding to the surge in cross-border e-commerce; promoting the harmonisation of the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) programme and enhancing integrity and professionalism within Customs administrations.
The meeting also focuses on the implementation of the Regional Strategy for 2025–2028, which sets the future direction for Customs co-operation in the ESA region.
The first major agenda item concerns the rising threat of narcotics trafficking across borders, particularly as criminal networks adopt increasingly sophisticated methods to evade detection.
Member States are sharing case experiences, operational challenges and innovations in surveillance, data analytics and cross-agency collaboration.
The discussions highlight that Customs administrations remain the first and last line of defence at borders and ports of entry.
However, the constantly changing methods used in the illicit drug trade require a blend of intelligence-led operations, inter-agency coordination and modern scanning and detection technologies.
Customs officials are also examining opportunities to deepen information-sharing frameworks across the region.
The goal is to ensure that seizures, intelligence alerts and risk profiles can be transmitted quickly enough to disrupt trafficking networks rather than simply respond to isolated incidents.
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Commitment to regional cooperation, Customs reform
MBABANE - Eswatini Revenue Service (ERS) Head of Domestic Taxes, Pearl Muir, who represented Commissioner General Brightwell Nkambula, reaffirmed the kingdom’s commitment to regional cooperation and Customs reform.
Muir said Eswatini has been a consistent contributor to regional initiatives despite not having previously hosted the meeting due to budget constraints. This year’s hosting, she said, marks an important milestone and renewed commitment. She also congratulated the newly appointed head of the ROCB, Director Josephine Manyasi, while acknowledging the legacy of his predecessor, Larry Liza.
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… harmonising authorised economic operator programme
MBABANE - The meeting is also assessing the progress and challenges in expanding and harmonising the AEO programme across the ESA region.
The AEO model allows compliant traders to enjoy preferential clearance procedures, faster processing and reduced inspections. However, uneven programme implementation across countries has slowed the broader vision of seamless regional trade.
Members are sharing experiences on implementing Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs), which allow AEO status granted in one country to be recognised in another.
The meeting is also exploring special support mechanisms that will help Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) participate in the AEO programme – a move seen as essential for inclusive economic development under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
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