The Comoros Customs Department recently held a press conference at its headquarters to address recent customs fraud incidents and provide an update on its activities since February 2026. Director General Djaanfar Salim Allaoui, accompanied by his advisors Ali Hamissi Moussa and Ibrahim Mohamed Soulé, discussed the irregular exit of two containers of alcoholic beverages from Moroni port. The containers, one containing 1,400 cartons of Levieux and the other 1,980 cartons of Pirate beer, had left the port without prior declaration.
According to the Director General, the customs services discovered the first container on October 8, and subsequent investigations revealed a second operation involving the same importer. The containers had arrived at the port on different dates, with the first one being shipped earlier and the second one arriving on August 12 aboard the Msc Albaf. The Director General emphasized that the investigations were expanded beyond the first container to verify if other goods had been exported under similar conditions.
The customs authorities were able to recover 32.9 million Comorian francs in duties and taxes for the first container, as well as a 75 million franc fine. Of the fine, 50 million francs have already been collected, and a check for 25 million francs has been submitted with a deadline of November 25. This brings the total amount of duties, taxes, and penalties to 107.9 million Comorian francs. Investigations are ongoing for the second container to determine the applicable duties, taxes, and sanctions.
The Director General also discussed another fraud case that was dismantled on April 1, involving a network smuggling subsidized Mauritian products, including rice, flour, and powdered milk, into Comoros. In addition to these cases, the press conference highlighted the department's activities since February 2026, including several seizure operations at ports and airports. These operations resulted in the interception of 29 kg of narcotics, contraband cigarettes, and pharmaceutical products from Dar es-Salaam.
The Director General emphasized that the fight against fraud extends beyond Moroni port to all ports, airports, and circuits through which goods enter the country. He also mentioned the modernization of the customs administration, including the implementation of a performance contract that came into effect on April 13, 2026, and the reinforcement of controls and agent training. The inauguration of the Moroni Port Control Unit on February 11 was also highlighted.
The Director General explained that he spent the first six months of his term observing and evaluating the services before implementing necessary changes. He stressed that this period was essential to understanding the administration's functioning and identifying reforms to be implemented. Addressing economic operators, the Director General recalled that the Customs Department remains open to dialogue, provided that it is accompanied by respect for the rules.
The Director General reaffirmed his commitment to pursuing reforms and defending the financial interests of the Comorian state. He emphasized that his role is to defend the state's interests, not to protect particular interests. The press conference provided clarity on the recent port fraud incidents and demonstrated the Customs Department's efforts to modernize and effectively combat fraud.
Key points
- The Comoros Customs Department recovered 32.9 million Comorian francs in duties and taxes and 75 million francs in fines for the irregular exit of two containers of alcoholic beverages from Moroni port.
