Qatar customs is the best in GCC regarding integrity

October 2015 - Edition No.
58
The customs employees participating in a
healthy programme for the perfect weight.
The Economist report
Qatar customs is the best in
GCC regarding integrity
The standards of measuring
the customs performance
Seizing a transit passenger
trying to smuggle 6 kg of gold
A quarterly publication of the general authority of customs - qatar
CUSTOMS
The integrity in Customs work
T
he GAC pays a great attention to the standard of integrity because
it considers one of the issues which endorses global concern from
various international institutions and organizations , both public and
private, that it has a direct impact on achieving the economic development, public money management and international trade freedom, the
integrity issue started to be important in the world in recent years so the
institutional works become proudly the reason in instilling the integrity
values and the affiliation among the employees. When we as customs institutions raises the subject of integrity , it comes on our mind “revised
Arusha declaration” which contains the basic principles of the integrity of
the customs employees at the global level.
In this context, the GAC made a great efforts on the world and local
level where the economic information unit has received a report from
“economist” said that the standard of integrity in Qatar customs considers
Ahmed bin Ali Al Mohannadi
Chairman of General Authority of Customs
the best at the GCC level. Qatar customs has got 79.9 average versus 65.8
of general GCC average.
This happened by implementing a strategic plan for the years (20142017) which focuses on integrity concept among its employees, and preparing a brochure entitled “the ethics of the customs officer” . First release
was in January 2010 and was distributed to customs employees , believing that the ethics are the image of the employee, note that the GAC has
made a serious of achievements that enhanced the standard of integrity
the GAC electronic systems to meet the principals partners ambitions and
improving the customs clearance system “single window” in order to facilitate the procedures and shorten the time and efforts as well as implementing the standards of security and facilitation of supply chain in
international trade.
Integrity is a group of values and rules that control behaviors in work
and include honesty, sincerity and stay away from any action might harm
the customs reputation. The GAC should protect the country through the
customs ports of Qatar (sea, land, air) and stood up firmly against that is
harmful for the ethics , faith , health, environment and public money. The
customs official considers the guardian and the first defense line of the
country’s security and economy.
In conclusion, I extend my thanks to all the customs staff for the efforts
they made to protect the society, combating illegal business activities and
implementing the principles and values of integrity based on our religion
, government instructions and Qatar vision 2030.
EDITION 58
pacities and employment distillation of 100%. In addition to developing
CUSTOMS
Editorial
such as developing the staff and building the customs institutional ca-
CUSTOMS
Magazine
A quarterly publication of the
general authority of customs - qatar
5
The Chairman of the General Authority of
Customs welcomes the Swiss Ambassador
General Supervisor
Ahmed bin Ali Al Mohannadi
Chief Editor
Ahmed Mohamed Omran
Editing Secretary
Mohamed Nageeb
Job Team
Khaled Al Aqeedi
Emad Nosseir
Mona Zainal
Abdulrahman Al-Noemi
14
Shoaa Al-Moftah
Design and Direction
WCO accredited manager of customs
affairs as an expert in rules of origin
Nabil magdy.. Tamer Dief
Tel: 44457477
Fax: 44457015
P.O. Box: 81 Doha - Qatar
Email: magazine@customs.gov.qa
facebook/customs.gov.qa
twitter/@qatar_customs
instagram/qatar_customs
18
Risk Section: 22 Control of Narcotic
Substances during First 6 Monthes of 2015
CUSTOMS Magazine - EDITION 58
16
11
Jaber Alsulaiti, the speaker of
the strategic plan of the GAC
Through programs to provide staff with technical experiences
Start of 12th founding session
of the new customs officers
22
24
Mohamed Khalaf Al-Atiq summarizes
40 years of service in Customs
Customs Performance
Measurement Standards
The GAC Witnessed a significant discussions about the unified customs law
The GAC participated in the 12th meeting
of the Gulf customs union
T
he GAC has participated in the 12th meeting
of the Gulf Customs Union , that has been held
during 5-6, 2015, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, through a
delegation headed by HE Ahmad Almuhanadi , the
chairman of the GAC.
It has been discussed during the meeting the minutes of the charged committee of reviewing the unified customs law regarding the amendment , deletion, adding some articles related to the law and its
executive rule, as well as discussed the exemption of
fixed price packages and personal dispatches and
the exemption of commercial samples and specific
duties on tobacco and its derivatives and transferring the results to the competent committees.
The meeting also discussed the preparation of the
third mutual meeting among the customs union
authority and the representatives of the private sectors in the Gulf states through customs procedures
committee that has discussed the study of unifying
the gold procedures which produced inside the Gulf
states, and activating the supreme council decision
regarding the ports procedures with the outside
world , and unifying the preview and inspection systems in all customs ports, and avoid the repetition
of tracks inspection operations at all border crossing
ports in Gulf states.
The meeting included the adoption of the customs
work among GCC in the field of single windows in
accordance with the best international practices that
helps achieving facilitation by adopting the approvals electronically and creating a cooperation environment between the customs and the private sector
which will reflect positively on the trade exchange
among the Gulf states as well best facilitation of the
goods movement.
The meeting discussed the resolutions of the economic and financial cooperation committee about
4
collecting the added tax by the customs directorate,
and making studies about the unified system of the
selective taxes of the Gulf states, and other topics
on the customs field and a several technical applications from some of the Gulf states.
It is worth mentioning that the importance of these
meetings is developing the customs work and improving capability, that reflects positively on trade
facilitation and ensure security, and helps adoption
of best international practices in implementing the
WCO tools through improving all the processes and procedures in order to achieve the desired goals.
CUSTOMS Magazine - EDITION 58
During a visit that aimed to enforcing the Free Trade Agreement between (EFTA) and the (GCC)
The Chairman of the General Authority of Customs
welcomes the Swiss Ambassador
T
he Chairman of the General Authority of Customs, Mr. Ahmed bin Ali Al-Mohanadi has welcomed Mr. Martin Aeschbacher, Ambassador of
Switzerland, in a visit that aimed to discuss the
enforcement of the Free Trade Agreement between the European Free Trade Association “EFTA”
and the members of the Gulf Cooperation Council
“GCC”, which had officially been established lately,
and also to discuss other issues related to the mutual economic relationship.
The meeting included a discussion about some
issues related to Customs work, and its role in enhancing the cooperation between the two countries and facilitating the trade traffic movement.
.. And welcomes the South African Ambassador
Al-Muhannadi welcomes
the French Ambassador
T
he Chairman of the General Authority of Customs, Mr. Ahmed bin Ali Al-Mohannadi has welcomed Mr. Saad Kachalia, the Ambassador of the
Republic of South Africa in the Qatar. The visit aimed
to enhance the communications between the two
countries, and to discuss the current aspects of cooperation.
The meeting included a discussion about some issues related to Customs work, and its role in enhancing the cooperation between the two countries and
facilitating the trade traffic movement.
T
he Chairman of the General Authority of Customs,
Mr. Ahmed bin Ali Al-Muhannadi has welcomed
The Ambassador of the Republic of France. During the
meeting they discussed the aspects of the economic
cooperation and the customs role in handling the
commodities and the facilitation of procedures between the two countries through the elimination of all
the obstacles they may encounter.
5
The GAC participated in WCO
meetings 125/126
HE Ahmad Almuhanadi, chairman
of GAC presided the Qatari delegation, which participated in the two
meetings that have been held in
the headquarters of the WCO in
Brussel, Belgium from 11-13 June
2015, which included all meetings
of WCO 125/126 and the regional
meeting No.42 for North Africa and
Middle and near east.
The meetings discussed several articulated topics about developing
and modernizing the customs work
and adopting the best standards
of security field and facilitating the
supply chain in the international
trade such as digital revolution
,global competitiveness package ,
global customs net, customs broker
, trade facilitation agreement , performance measurement, the effect
recommendations of public policy
committee , the report of the professional attachment in capacity building directorate, WCO elections, approve the Jordan’s training
center as a regional training center
, and training plan of the countries
of the regions.
of electronic trade on revenue collection, reviewing (SAFE( standards,
the partnership with the private
sectors, and security initiative and
other topics.
As for the regional field, it has been
discussed the acceptance of palatine membership in WCO , the 73
It should be noted that the annual
report about the region activities
has praised obviously the important role of the GAC in holding
several of regional workshops that
affected the institutional capacity
visits for the regions countries, the
obvious progress was also mentioned through the diagnostic task
of the 3rd phase of the Columbus
program in many fields, including
the implementation of the WCO
means and tools.
After over 10 years of cooperation
The Agency’s Chairman welcomes the delegation of
the “Newk-Tech” X-Ray Screening Equipment Company
The Chairman of the General Authority of Customs,
Mr. Ahmed bin Ali Al-Muhannadi welcomed a delegation from the Chinese company “Newk-Tech”
which is specialized in x-ray screening inspection
equipment, during their visit to the State of Qatar.
This takes place as part of their mutual cooperation
that lasted for ten years. The head of the delegation, who is deputy CEO, said that this visit aimed to
strengthen the relationship and the mutual cooperation for the next decade, in order to enforce the future security and safety and to increase the efficiency
of the Customs related issues.
It is noteworthy that the Authority has recently, in cooperation with the Chinese company, built two vehicles the purpose of which is to inspect trucks. They
6
were built according to the specifications adopted
by the Authority in cooperation with the Internal Security Force - Lekhwiya.
CUSTOMS Magazine - EDITION 58
In the context of checking the technical environments that might be an alternative to customs information center
“Customs systems analysts’’ meeting reviews the
experience of companies “Oorado” and “Meeza”
Amending the name Systems Analysts Team to “Committee of Direct Automatic Transfer of Customs Duties”
Abbreviating direct automatic transfer of customs duties into (DT)
The activities of the eleventh meeting of the GCC systems analysts
team who is in charge of putting
the procedural and technical framework for the implementation of
direct transfer of customs duties
mechanism in the Customs Union
were concluded in Doha. The meeting was organized by the General
Authority of Customs over the past
week.
During the meeting, the heads of
delegations addressed a number of
themes in this regard of which the
most important is the adoption of
list of contacts controller in the departments of customs and General
Secretariat to follow up any potential technical obstacles in the direct
conversion system, in addition to
coordination with specialists in the
state in the procedure departments
of customs, computer and financial
affairs. Furthermore, the subject
of amending the structure of data
exchange files that are exchanged
between the member countries of
customs and the Customs Information Centre of the General Secretariat.
Based on the recent meeting held
in the Customs Union Commission
and as for the work of the GCC systems analysts, modification of the
current name Clearing Committee
to “Committee of settling customs
duties between the GCC countries”
and modification of the name systems analysts team in the member
countries who is in charge of putting
the procedural and technical framework for the implementation of the
mechanism of direct
automatic
transfer
of customs duties in
the Customs Union of
the GCC countries to
“Committee for direct
automatic transfer of
customs duties” have
been approved. Also the abbreviated name (DT) replaced the direct
transfer system of customs duties.
Field Visits
The Committee team had technical
field visits to (Oorado) and (Meeza)
in the State of Qatar. This came in
the context of checking the outstanding technical environments
that might be an alternative to customs information center as a substitute in the event of service interruption or disaster (DR). The team
reviewed the characteristics and
technical services that the company
provides.
7
Experts from WCO establish Customs Departments
Among the third phase of Columbus Program
T
he General Authority of Customs (GAC) hosted
the third phase of Columbus Program of the
World Customs Organization (WCO) within the period 17-21 May, 2015. The third phase of the mission
was implemented by two experts from the General
Secretariat of the Organization.
Qatari Customs hosted the two experts who had
held meetings with senior managers in the GAC in
the head office and Navy Customs office. In addition,
the two experts met representatives from the private
sector and Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The mission of the third phase of Columbus Program
of the WCO discussed the comprehensive regulatory
issues which are used as references for the diagnostic structure of the Organization and knowing the
obstacles that face the strategic planning.
The two experts praised the achievements of Qatari
Customs in the advanced strategic planning, development of single-window system, successful implementation of the borders coordination department,
the academic study programs which were executed
with Community College in Qatar, improvement of
the infrastructure in many customs establishments,
in addition to improving the institutional capacities
of the staff.
They also praised many remarkable developments
on the customs website and the effective use of
social communication methods, in addition to enhancing the relations significantly with the foreign
stakeholders, especially with the business and trade
community. The WCO team concluded its tour by
presenting a number of recommendations that aim
to enhance the work in customs departments.
8
CUSTOMS Magazine - EDITION 58
In coordination with customs and New Hamad Airport project
Lekhwiya signs agreement to develop
security systems in both sea and land ports
“Lekhwiya” signed with the Chinese company “Nyuktk”
an agreement to develop security systems in both sea
and land ports in Qatar as represented in New Hamad
Airport project and General Authority of Customs.
During a visit by the Chinese firm delegation headed
by its Vice President, the agreement was signed on the
Qatari side by Lekhwiya Security Technology Division
Head Captain Engineer Ali Hassan Al Rashed, and by Mr.
Lee, Vice President of “Nyuktk” on the Chinese side. This
came after holding a number of meetings with stakeholders to follow-up mechanisms to implement the
project on time.
The agreement aims to develop security systems in the
New Hamad Port project, Abu Samra border and the
port of Ruwais and enhance the ability of these ports
through the introduction of modern security systems
in the field of radiation detection and increase the efficiency of border controls using the advanced technology that is compatible with the latest operating systems
in place.
The visit of the Chinese firm delegation resulted in the
agreement
t o
develop
the security
systems by providing radiation detection devices that
would be supplied during the upcoming period to New
Hamad Port and checking devices to the central inspection area of the General Authority of Customs, including
the up-to-date operation systems. It shall be the first of
its kind that the firm will develop. The firm will take into
account in the modern devices that they have superior
capabilities in detecting drugs, explosives and arms. This
will result in increasing the detection ability of products
and goods check devices of the General Authority of
Customs.
It is worth mentioning that Lekhwiya has earlier
supplied to the General Authority of Customs
through a joint committee two advanced X-ray
machines to screen containers. These machines are advanced scanners that detect
the components of the container through
the rapid movement over it and identifying the places of banned items easily.
This aims to closely control and inspect
the exports and imports that enter into
or exit from the State ports.
These two vehicles are characterized
with their ability to detect organic
and inorganic materials making it
much easier for a customs inspector to determine where prohibited
substances or hazardous materials
are. This is done through a rapid
electronic scanning over the container externally.
9
To check their experience in dealing with radiation inspection
Delegation of Qatari Customs
visits Hamriyah Center in UAE
A
delegation of Qatari Customs visited the sisterly
UAE-based Hamriyah Customs Center (HCC).
The delegation members were Mr. Youssef Motab Al
Noaimy, Head of Risks Department at the General Authority for Customs, Captain Ali Hassan Al Rashid from
Internal Security Force “Lekhwiya”, Captain Abd Al Aziz
Nasser Al Yafay, Head of Port Operations Department,
Michael Jones, Inspection Devices Specialist, Ehab
Anany and Mohannad Al Dorby from Hamad Port Project. They were received by Mr. Yakoub Gabsh, Director
of HCC, and a number of customs inspectors from the
HCC.
The delegation moved to the Inspection Service building where it was briefed on how to operate and use
containers examination device (scanner) and on the
followed systems used in the monitoring room and
the technical abilities of the device to detect prohibited and hazardous items which are banned by laws
to enter the state territory. The delegation also was
briefed closely on the ray device and its properties.
The Qatari delegation praised the technical skills of inspectors in the building and the advanced techniques
that the HCC uses in short-time detection of containers.
Based on their application to obtain clearance practicing license
“Customs Affairs” meet the owners of modern
clearance companies
The meeting was attended by
around 50 representatives and delegates of various companies, in addition to a number of customs clearance officers. In an open meeting,
they discussed with customs departments officials their remarks in
customs clearance process, which is
supposed to be useful in the development of workflow and to speed
up the procedures in the form
sought by both parties.
The Customs Affairs Department
met the owners and representatives
of customs clearance companies
who applied to obtain a license to
practice the customs clearance profession. It was an open meeting at
the General Authority of Customs
(GAC) building to explain the study
conducted by the GAC and to set
the appropriate customs controls to
develop the profession of customs
clearance officers.
10
The speech, that was managed by
Mr. Sultan Al Nuaimy, Director of
Customs Affairs Department, Mr.
Gaber Al Sulaity, Director of Planning and Quality Department, included an open discussion aiming
to improve and develop ways of
cooperation between the two parties. During the meeting, each side
listened to its remarks that relate to
the process of customs clearance
and the obstacles encountered.
“Such open meetings is useful for
work,” Mr. Sultan Al Nuaimy said,
assuring that the customs work integrates with clearance companies’
work and it is necessary to have periodic meetings between the two
parties to know the notes of one
party about the work of the other,
in addition to listening to the complaints of those dealing with customs in an attempt to correct and
upgrade work tracks.
CUSTOMS Magazine - EDITION 58
Through programs to provide staff with technical experiences
Start of 12th founding
session of the new
customs officers
The General Authority of Customs (GAC) started the
12th founding session of a new group of officers at the
GAC headquarters. Such a session aims at making the
new officers acquainted with the various customs tasks
and technical experiences necessary for customs work.
Mr. Hamad Al Kubaisy, Head of Training and Continuing
Education Department, has opened the session. In the
beginning, he urged the participants to make effort and
be dedicated in order to gain the expertise supportive
to a customs officer. Al Kubaisy considered training is a
main element in gaining officers’ experiences and supporting them to face the requirements of the customs
work in different fields, pointing out that Customs is
keen to prepare cadres with the latest training theoretical and field programs.
He pointed out that the customs work is one of the most
vital jobs in the state as it is the first bulwark in fighting
smuggling attempts of banned goods inside the country and an important economic tributary for the country. Hence, the GAC seeks to present an integral train-
ing through presenting theoretical training specialized
about customs and security subjects for 6 weeks at the
GAC headquarters. Afterwards, sports field training for
3 weeks at Police Training Institute, Ministry of Interior,
shall be held.
86 new officers participate in the founding session. Elite
group of experts from the GAC and outside will teach it.
The session addresses subjects concerning the customs
law, customs procedures, customs inspection, customs
tariff as well as customs exemptions, report of seizure
and customs inspection.
It also addresses a number of topics concerning radiation prevention, security sense, risk management, falsification, forgery, revenues, customs auditing, integrity
and anti-money laundering, art of dealing with the public, rules of origin and drugs, and other topics related to
dealing with chemical substances, customs value and
explosives.
To enhance participants’ experience
Training Course on “Customs Act and its Executive Regulation”
General Authority of Customs organized a course under the title
“Customs Act and its Executive
Regulation.” A number of different
customs departments staff of the
Authority joined with the aim to
support their legal knowledge and
enhance the level of their career
competence. The course was taught
by Mr. Majid Ahmed Taher, Legal
Expert in the Department of Legal
Affairs.
The course included several themes.
In the first theme, participants knew
the terms of the Customs Act No.
40/2002 and other customs legislations (Definitions and General
Provisions). The second theme dis-
cussed the outstanding conditions
of customs duties (Temporary Entry) and customs exemptions and
types. While the third theme addressed “Customs Crimes” and how
to dispose of them during which the
lecturer discussed different types of
crimes such as (customs smuggling
– customs violations)
and
reviewed the
executive regulation of the
Customs Act
and its importance in practicing the customs work.
The fourth them discussed the
rights and duties of customs employees, minutes of the customs
seizure, types of spatial scale, powers of law enforcement officers and
other topics relating to the basics of
the Customs Act.
11
Participated by a number of inspectors of customs ports
Two Courses about
“Risks Management” and “Customs Value”
General Authority of Customs organized two courses
about “Risks Management” and “Customs Value” during the period from 6th to 8th of September 2015. 37
employees from the Authority and customs land, sea
and air ports participated in the courses.
This is the result of the Authority care about supporting its employees with the theoretical and field expertise in all fields related to customs work, and its
interest in the fields of risks management and customs value which are two of the important issues
pursued by the countries customs in terms of
security. They contribute to the provision of
human cadres’ efforts for customs and care at
the same time about facilitating the smoothness of entry of goods and supporting the
movement of trade.
The first course discussed all issues related
to risks management from definition, importance, forms of customs controls and reasons
for its terms and legislative supports. It also
discussed the types of risks, their stages, analysis and treatment, the process of customs
intelligence and its steps and finally the subsequent review and its elements and stages.
Some participants assured that those cours-
12
es had important role in enhancing their expertise
about the concept of customs risks management
and value for commercial purposes as well as the
methods that customs departments adopted in applying such systems. The courses also focused on the
risks work in the customs context including the principles, framework and the operational process itself.
Operations of intelligence gathering and analysis operations were also discussed, in addition to the role
of communication and notification in supporting
and ensuring the success of risk departments’ work.
CUSTOMS Magazine - EDITION 58
The Best Experience
I
joined work at General Authority of Customs on 12/ 03/ 1997. I began in
the air freight (as a Trainee Inspector). After one year, I finished the training
session (in land transport) and was first in place. I continued working and
was gradually promoted from Customs Inspector to Shift Supervisor then to
Export Unit Head in air freight.
I had ambitions and hopes to finish my academic study, but for circumstances beyond my control, I could not complete my study. In 2012, I had
the opportunity to join the first year in customs Diploma in Applied Customs
Science (Community College). I passed the scheduled tests at the authority
and college.
The academic experience was the best experience in my life. I got to know
university life more closely, new teachers and colleagues, the academic
study experience and its studying programs in different fields such as (administration, economics, accounting, language) as well as customs side. I
cannot deny that I faced many challenges in terms of tests and projects requested by teachers. However, thanks to God, I was graduated and got excellent grade; I was second in the first year among the students that obtained
the diploma. Hence, I advise senior employees to join the academic study
program (Diploma in Applied Customs Science) as it opens new and many
horizons for employees studying in the field.
A letter of thanks: Thanks to God, first and last, for giving me the opportunity
to begin and finish the study, then thanks to HE Chairman of the Authority
for giving me the opportunity, and thanks to all officials at the training center I also thank the teaching staff, headed by the President of the College Dr.
Ibrahim Al-Naimi as well as all classmates of customs and college students.
Ahmed Saleh Al Kuwari
13
World Customs Organization accredited
manager of customs
affairs as an
expert in rules
of origin
World Customs Organization accredited Mr. Sultan Abdellatif AlNaimi from Qatari customs as an
approved training expert for Arabic
speakers, after he had successfully
completed three specialized workshops that aiming at accrediting
Arabic speakers experts in rules of
origin. The workshops have been recently held in Qatar and Abu Dhabi.
Moreover, he took over post of manager of customs affairs administration. In this interview, Mr. Sultan
Al—Naimi talked about the award
and the most prominent issues and
subjects he would address as being
manager of customs manager:
Congratulations for being an expert
14
in the World Customs Organization,
please tell us the details of the accreditation
I got the certificate by the grace
of God and support of head of the
authority Mr. Ahmed Bin Ali AlMohandy and planning and quality
department represented by Mr. Mohamed Al-Maadid, Mr. Gabr Al-Sality and Mr. Abdel Hady Al-Sahly who
were supporting me constantly.
A workshop was held in Qatar and
I participated actively. After that, I
knew that I was nominated to participate in course of accreditation
of experts in which all talented of
the workshops held at Qatar and
U.A.E participated. Many tests were
carried out at these workshops. I
presented worksheet and detailed
presentation in a specialized subject about rules of origin.
After being accredited as a training
expert in rules of origin for Arabic
speakers, I would like to say that
my name is on the certificate, but
the real success is for the General
Authority of Customs. I want also to
thank all those who congratulated
me and I thank U.A.E for greeting
me, as being the first one in Gulf
countries who got the accreditation.
What do you think about low number of accredited Arab experts?
Actually, the number of Arab ex-
CUSTOMS Magazine - EDITION 58
tions. We follow-up customs procedures at outlets. We put the
policies and they apply them.
What is the importance of origin
for customs work?
The rules of origin represent the
first basis of agreements among
countries. Without them, we
cannot execute any agreement.
They point out the sources of
goods inputs. They are important in terms of security.
* What are the most important
topics discussed by the Director of Customs Affairs?
perts cannot be compared with
West experts. Thus, we should exert
more efforts to achieve better rates
in this regard. However, we, the gulf
countries, have experts in several
customs fields including harmonized system and capacity building.
I except that new Arab experts in all
fields of customs work will appear
in the gulf area during the coming
period.
What is the opinion of customs affairs administration about you as
an employee at the past and as a
current manager?
At first, I would like to thank all the
previous managers I worked with
them and taught form them. They
all made good efforts during their
work and they left a fertile land for
me. I thank God; I have not faced
any problem in the work. I am taking responsibility of an administration that does not need anything.
I think that Customs Affairs administration is the root of customs work. I
ask God to help me in managing it
with cooperation of my colleagues.
I started to determine system of
the work and I did not deviate from
the framework set by the previous
managers, because they are all experts in their fields and they had a
prominent role in developing performance of the administration.
What are the departments of customs affairs administration and
what is the nature of each department?
The role of the customs affairs administration is applying customs
policies and systems in outlets and
following up them. The administration is composed of five departments. “Tariff and origin” department is responsible for codes of
goods and application of rules of
origin. “Customs brokers” department is responsible for affairs of
customs brokers and their work
and training permits. “Exemptions
and outstanding conditions for
fees” department is responsible for
exemptions issued under laws, any
financial issues and customs settlements such as temporary saving and others. “Organizations and
agreements” department is responsible for executing and following
up agreements applicable in Qatar.
“Value” department is responsible
for prices of goods and updating
them. Moreover, there is secretariat
that provides services for public in
general.
How is the coordination done to
meet the internal and external administrations needs (Outlets)?
The administration properly follows-up the communication policy
and all administrations are cooperated in continuous communication
and mutual cooperation and coordination with external administra-
Currently, our concern is to provide a comprehensive service
that is better in speed and quality and that depends on facilitating
and achieving the procedures for
all dealers, whether individuals or
traders. Now, I exert effort for improving the work in general in the
departments of management and
dependence on technology.
What are the most significant projects required to be achieved by
Customs Affairs in the strategic
plan?
International conventions, laboratories in the ports and programs related to customs value are the most
significant strategic projects of the
Authority.
How will the Custom Affairs Department achieve the comprehensive quality in customs action?
The most important thing is that
the employees do their work well
and know all work aspects. We
passed the routine work stage and
now we depend on strategic plans
and specializing programs that can
achieve quality in work. Quality
comes as a result of meeting our clients’ requirements in the best form
and earliest possible time. I thank
all employees for their cooperation
and urge them to work hard in order to implement their role seriously and positively and to achieve the
desired work.
15
Jabr Al Sulaiti about the Strategic Plan of the Authority
Customs Plan Projects are a Part
of the National Development
Strategy of the State
I
mplementation of the General Authority of Customs
(GAC) strategy plan 2013-2016 in April 2013 AD is on a
steady pace to achieve the GAC strategic objectives of
which the most important is caring about the human
element and building and developing its abilities. It is
its most prominent characteristic. It was the first building block for our projects to build institutional abilities
of the Authority was to establish the very first strategic
goal, building institutional capacity and an efficient
workforce with a high motivation to work”. As for the
other strategic objectives, their projects are specialized
in nature and their work term spans over several years.
It is noteworthy that the Amiri Decree No. 37 of 2014
to establish the General Authority of Customs and allocating its authorities has made it inevitable to review
the strategic plan act, which was done, as there was an
act that was developed into the strategic plan of 20142017 which includes all authorities of the created administrative units and the re-distribution of projects on
16
such units without compromising the strategic objectives of the Authority.
The Authority as part of the institutional structure of
the State and being one of the public policies implementers, it had to adapt its goals and projects with
these polices which are represented in the goals of
national development strategy of the state, we worked
on adapting these goals and to integrate this (Adoption) attitude in the institutional culture of the Authority.
The Strategic Objectives of the Authority were set after
studying the national vision and its pillars, and making sure that goals’ output shall serve the pillars of the
national vision in way that contributes to the achievement of Qatar National Vision 2030.
On the other hand, in relation to the strategic plan, the
most important projects and aspirations of the Authority for 2015 was to achieve a qualitative progress in the
CUSTOMS Magazine - EDITION 58
implementation of its strategic plan by launching a
number of (49) projects. First and foremost; establishing a new corporate identity for the Authority, welcoming the first academic customs specialized group
of the Authority staff after having obtained Customs
Sciences diploma from Community College of Qatar,
launching the certifief “accredited” economic partners’
project, and launching the Customs Training Center
project.
Regarding the frequently asked question about the
role of preparing for hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup,
the Authority has the honor to be one of the important elements in the process through its membership
in all of the essential committees assembled on a national level to complete all preparations for hosting
the event. Through realizing the quantity of the projects accompanying such preparations, one can imagine the volume of works that await all employees of
governmental offices. The most prominent challenges
the Authority encounters is to work in a balanced way
between facilitating the transit of imports of heritage projects and contributing to the preparations in
order to provide an unforgettable experience for all
participants in the 2022 FIFA World Cup and between
maintaining society security and providing a safe environment for all participants, which will be applied by
constantly qualifying the customs staff through highstandard training and enhancing programs and benefiting from the global experiences in this field.
17
575 Reports of Customs Network Presented
Risk Section: 22 Control of Narcotic
Substances during First 6 Monthes of 2015
Air Customs is the biggest port in terms of
the number of various seizure cases of which
the most notably “Commercial Fraud”.
Risk Section of the Operations and Risk Analysis Department, General Authority of Customs, presented,
during the first quarter of 2015, 575 reports in Customs
Enforcement Network (CEN), in addition to the inclusion of a number of local and external warnings and reports concerning the various seizures from 1st January
till 31st June 2015. The first semi-annual report, which
was prepared by the Risk Department, pointed that
the total reports Qatar has presented and entered into
the network ranks it second after KSA which submitted
1148 report during the aforesaid six months.
Narcotic Substances
As for the local seizures of narcotic substances, Customs
was able to achieve 170 seizures of narcotic pills totaling 10815, and 27 seizures of narcotic substances that
included various items: 2 kg and 884 gm of hashish, 1
kg and 37 gm of heroin, 538 gm of Shabu drug, 4 grams
of opium drug and only the total seized marijuana was
22 kg and 815 gm.
Various Seizures
In addition to narcotic substances, the total number of
various seizures put Air Customs on the top as it was
able to do 106 seizures during that period, followed by
the land port with 63 seizures, then the sea port with
63 seizures. The seizures varied to include tax evasion,
alcohol and tobacco, intellectual property rights, weapons and ammunitions, fireworks and pornography,
commercial fraud and other contrabands.
The role of the sea customs has emerged in seizing the
largest percentage of commercial fraud reports. The
role of air customs has emerged in seizing the largest
percentage of tobacco. While the role of the land port
“Abu Samra Customs” has emerged in tax smuggling
cases.
The report included the smugglers’ nationality during
18
that period, and specified the most dangerous nationalities in smuggling, the most important itineraries of
smuggled goods and the narcotic substances that have
been seized mostly and are popular in smuggling to
closely searching for them by means known to customs
officials.
Bill of Lading
Risk Section presented, in its report for the mentioned
period, a number of submitted bills of lading on Al Nadeeb Program. 14977 bills of lading have been submitted in the general manifesto through air and sea ports
while the number of printing manifesto reached 23369
bills of lading.
General Manifesto
As for the “General Manifesto”, the number of bills of
lading submitted on Al Nadeeb Program during the
first half of 2015 was 35255, while in the printing manifesto the number of bills of lading submitted on Al Nadeeb reached 60674.
Customs Data
As for the customs data in Land Customs Department
CUSTOMS Magazine - EDITION 58
The statistics included seizure of 10 kg marijuana and 1 kg opium
“land shipment”, the port has witnessed issuing of
95092 customs statements during the first half of 2015.
It varied to include 76954 importing statements, 11924
exporting statements, 27 temporary importing statement, 143 temporary exporting statements and 6034
re-exporting statements.
In air customs, the port has witnessed issuing of 56687
customs statements during the first half of 2015. It varied to include 48116 importing statements, 282 exporting statements, 35 temporary importing statements,
261 temporary exporting statements and 7765 re-exporting statements.
In sea customs, the port has witnessed issuing of 43919
customs statements during the first half of 2015. It
varied to include 33903 importing statements, 6483
exporting statements, 115 temporary importing statements, 70 temporary exporting statements and 3287
re-exporting statements.
Traffic of Vehicles
As for, the traffic of vehicles across Abu Samra port
during the same period, the port witnessed entry of
141631 vehicles and exit of 133931 vehicles, so the total
entry and exit movements reached 275562.
The report included a number of important warnings
received from regional offices in other countries with
the aim of reviewing, taking caution and taking the necessary actions. The warnings set forth a description of a
number of contrabands smuggling cases in new ways
in addition to a brief about some attempts to smuggle
the money with the seized currencies.
The periodic report is useful in raising the awareness of
a customs inspector of smuggling ways and methods
through available means such as booklets and CDs. It
is also useful in providing assistance when needed for
local offices within the territory or other territories.
During this period, Risk Section received warnings from
participating countries explaining that these countries
seized various smuggling cases, in addition to the secret ways of hiding narcotic substances. This comes
within the scope of exchanging information between
countries customs.
The Relo Qatar Office of the Risk Section collects seizures data including the relating details of customs offenses of all kinds from all the sources and ports on the
local level. It also enters seizures data in CEN.
Those who work at the office also share information
with the regional office and local offices in the area of
smuggling and local seizures data analysis to know the
smuggling ways and get the common points among
smugglers as well as their characteristics.
19
Primary Health Care Corporation provided
a comprehensive health report for each employee
Customs Officers Participate in
Healthy Program of Ideal Weight
G
eneral Authority of Customs hosted a medical
team from the Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC), as part of their implementation of the
program (Ramadan is health, wage and gift), which
is organized by the PHCC for the second year respectively. It aims to raise the health and nutritional
awareness and to introduce to the staff of ministries
and government and private entities information regarding their physical condition in terms of ratio of
fats, fluids, salts and other useful information.
The program is summarized in having two visits to
every point. The first visit is to measure the weight
and take biometrics of employees who are interested in measurement and give them ideal programs in
order to reach an ideal weight, along with providing
20
the necessary health tips for food habits proper to
their health. In the second visit, which comes almost
a month after the first, the team re-measures the
weight of the same staff and presents a symbolic gift
and a certificate of thanks and appreciation for each
one that managed to reach the ideal weight through
following food tips.
“The GAC has deemed it useful to cooperate with
the PHCC and to use this valuable program in showing the GAC staff their health condition and assisting
them in consolidating the healthy behavior through
their direct communication with a group of doctors
who specialize in health food. It provides reliable information and supports staff to pay attention to their
health and care about improving it by following a
CUSTOMS Magazine - EDITION 58
proper diet program presented to them,” Mr. Ahmed
Al Qubaisi, Director of Public Relations and Communications, said, indicating that the health program
found a large turnout of staff.
For her side, Dr. Heba Abu Halawa, Head of Health
Awareness at the PHCC, said, “The program (Ramadan is health, wage and gift) depends on the provision of a food program to every participant that fits
his own health status which has been measured to
him. It relies on motivating employees to take advantage of the month of Ramadan to do the required
diet and to follow the right diet program for them to
lose weight.”
She said the turnout of the GAC’s staff was large as
statistics indicate that 75 employees, males and females, of the GAC had full examination and received
medical reports. “Customs is one of the largest entities that participated in the program. The first shift
was allocated for men and the second for women
where the examination processes were done in an
orderly, smoothly and fast way,” she confirmed.
Dr. Heba pointed out that healthy nutrition rules in
the month of Ramadan are not different from any
other month: eating a variety of foods, eating only
the quantity of food needed by the body, meaning not eating too much, being careful to eat a lot
of grains, vegetables and fruit products and eating
little fat and cholesterol-rich foods as well as reducing the eating of sweets and sugary foods, with an
emphasis on eating what the body needs of calories.
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization
of the United Nations, a normal person needs about
1800 calories as a minimum every day. The need of
the body for calories varies depending on the muscular activity difference. An active person that moves
much needs calories more than a lazy person.
21
Mohamed Khalaf Al-Atiq summarizes
40 years of service in Customs:
The Smart Inspector
is the cornerstone of
Customs Work
My first salary was 1400 riyals, all inclusive
Mr. Mohamed Khalaf Al-Atiq is one of the senior Customs
employees who have an extensive experience in all aspects of Customs work. Ever since he was hired in Qatari
Customs in 1975, he worked with diligence and dedication. He has several contributions to the improvement of
the work; he worked in the old air freight sector, moved to
Doha Port and then to the Auctions Committee through
a series of positions from which he gained his broad experience in Customs work. We would like, through this
episode of (Memoirs Talks), to run over this experience as a
testament to an elegant era and a significant period in the
history of Customs.
First we would like you to introduce yourself and your
key positions in your career in Customs?
I am Mohamed Khalaf Al-Atiq, I was employed in customs
in 1975 in the position of an inspector in the old air freight
sector, during the chairmanship of Mr. Ahmed Al-Uthman
of the Customs Administration. By the year 1998 I had become Chief of the Examination Department. Then I was
transferred to Doha Port as chief of the Examination Department, and by the year 2006 I had become Doha Port’s
Chief of Customs. Then I moved to the position of Chief of
the Air Freight, then to Revenues, then to Legal Affairs, and
currently I work in the Auctions Committee in the Land
Transportation Center.
What is the difference between Customs work in the
seventies and the same now?
Although the air traffic and passengers volume in the
seventies and eighties were slim, the work pressure was
sizeable due to the small number of inspectors. A single
employee did several jobs in finalizing clearance and
inspection procedures etc., cargos were a few, most of
which were foods and textiles form countries such as India, Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Brit-
22
ain.
How many inspectors were there at the beginning of
your work? And how much was an inspector’s salary
back then?
The total number of inspectors was 20 people; each shift
comprised only 5 inspectors. Therefore they exerted tremendous efforts in their work. The salary was almost 1400
riyals, all inclusive. I had a 1976 Peugeot, the installments
of which I had to pay from my monthly salary.
Who was your first manager when you first joined Customs, and who were your co-workers?
My first manager was Mr. Jumaa bin Hamad Al-Masnad,
I hold him dear to my heart, I learned so much from him.
My co-workers back then were Hamad bin Abdulrahman
Al-Nuaimy, Jamaan Salem Al-Abdullah, Ali Meteib AlMarry, Abdullah Mohamed Al-Maleky, Sultan Mohamed,
Mr. Abdullah Saleh Abu Matar Al-Muhannady, Chief of the
Airport Customs, Ahmed Abu Abbas Al-Jaber, Abdulmajid
Eissa Al-Rumaihi, Abdullah bin Jasim Al Thani, Abdullah
Ahmed Al-Saaiy, Abdullah Helal Al-Khalify, the late Rashed
Saadon Al-Kawary and many others of good colleagues.
What were the most significant seizures you have
CUSTOMS Magazine - EDITION 58
made when you were an inspector?
I made a large number of seizures, the most significant of
which were in 1982, it was 5 kg of pot in the old air freight
sector, my colleagues too made some seizures during that
period e.g. firearms, liquors and khat.
How was the luggage inspections conducted given the
frailty of inspection equipment back then?
In the late eighties there were only one device that checks
the contents of large pieces of luggage in the passengers’
terminal, and two devices for the small luggage and hand
bags. No doubt that the modern x-ray devices which were
invented afterwards had gradually made the inspection
easier for us, all the way through to the devices we have
now, which are able to identify everything in a bag with
the utmost accuracy.
Did you use to inspect every bag manually to make
sure they don’t contain any forbidden items?
We did not inspect every flight manually, but there were
flights from certain countries that were fully inspected by
both ways. We also used “Evidence Research Division” but
not quite like the way it is used nowadays. I would like to
confirm that the smart inspector is the cornerstone of Customs work and its main pillar of support, not the technology and scanning equipment. Back in the day we depended on ourselves in inspection operations and on our study
of the case before us. We have many examples of cases of
fees payment evasion and drugs smuggling which we prevented thanks to the grace of God and the inspectors’ wits.
Which Customs port was the most active in the seventies? And what are the key agencies that complement
the Customs in ports?
The Airport is the most active, given its factors of speed,
which is why most citizens, residents, guests, visitors and
delegations depend on flights in their movements, except
for cases of shipping goods and road trips, such cases are
handled through the port or through Abu Samra point. As
for the other agencies, it is the nature of the work of Customs ports that require the constant complementation of
security agencies. Ever since the beginning of our work
in Customs, there have been police, health and security
offices among other agencies. There has been a sense of
unity amongst all and everyone was keen on his part in
protecting the country from any danger.
How much was Customs Fees when you started your
work in Customs? And which country had the busiest
economic relationship with Qatar back then?
Customs fees were 2.5% on all substances except for cigarettes; recently it has been increased to 5%. As for the
countries that had the busiest economic relationship with
The total personnel number
in the early eighties was 20
Qatar, they were mostly Asian countries and some Arab
countries, mostly U.A.E. and KSA.
What do you think about the use of technology to manage Customs operation and Customs clearance? Did you
use the single-window System (Al Nadeeb) for electronic
Customs clearance?
No doubt that technology had accomplished a large portion of the daily work. Inspection and clearance operations are conducted in a doubled pace and accuracy. As
for the Single-Window system, I have not worked on it. I
expect it to be a huge success in the future, because the
trade volume and economic traffic and prosperity in between countries of the world nowadays require the presence of such modern systems. However, I want its makers
to resolve the problems from which it suffers so it would
not have glitches or imperfections and do its operations
more accurately.
What is it that you would like to say to the youth who
are now working in Customs?
Customs work requires acute discipline, dedication and
accuracy, in addition to honesty
and punctuality. I urge all of the
youth who are now working in
Customs to be sure of their great
role which the play for their country to be a motive in their careers.
My word to the senior officials is
that to keep the basic and accumulative process of training. The
basic process is the preparation
of the employees for their work
through basic courses, I recommend forming smaller groups
from every new group hired in
Customs. These groups are to
circulate the procedures of Customs points to attain knowledge
of their operating system. I think
such practical exercise would
help their know-how of the Customs procedures in general and
also help expedite the pace and
smoothness of the Customs
agents’ work.
employees, 5 per shift
23
A method to achieve objectives, identify weak points and to develop work
Customs Performance Measurement Standards
Customs performance measurement standards is an objective
method used by all organizations
to measure their abilities to achieve
their objectives efficiently as specified in the executive action plan
which relies basically on use of
quantitative statistics and indicators. Usually, customs agencies
measure the performance of their
personnel to estimate their competence and the quality of their
work. This is not what modern and
developed customs agencies seek,
because measurement of personnel performance is one of the traditional mechanisms that are carried
out in all organizations, not only
customs. But what a modern and
developed customs agency should
do is to apply good, accurate and
scientific mechanisms to measure
the performance of customs itself.
Such mechanisms include procedures, standards, steps and activities that collectively aim to answer
three important questions: Are the
objectives achieved? Are the objectives achieved efficiently? Where is
the glitch?
Most of the developed customs
agencies use several performance
standards and measures in all or
some of the following:
*Shipments Value: This indicator
24
is useful for identifying the value
of imports and
exports, which allows
personnel
to recognize the
importance
of
the customs role
in the national
economy
and
economic trends
of the country.
*Shipments Size:
It means number
of consignments
that are imported. This indicator
is useful for running a comparison
between customs administrations
and for identifying performance on
various functions’ levels.
*Number of Complaints: This is an
important indicator in which the
satisfaction level of customers is
measured; low number of complaints in comparison with number
of shipments reflects high level of
customers’ satisfaction.
*Number of complaints refereed to
arbitration: This is also an important indicator, because it reflects
satisfaction level of the customers.
It is different from the previous indicator, because it indicates the volume of such group that drastically
objects to decisions of customs for
any reason and resorts to a higher
level of litigation.
Number of smuggling cases: The
rise of this number in comparison
with the number of shipments imported in a certain period can reflect such tariff items or commodities’ qualities that require sharper
observation or amendments to the
legislations thereof.
Ratio of custom outcome staff
number/certificates number: This
is one of the traditional indicators
that all customs agencies use for
demonstration of the degree proportion between their personnel
and their work volume. Although it
does not reflect any positive results
in terms of economic analysis, it is
used for the purposes of comparing between customs agencies lo-
CUSTOMS Magazine - EDITION 58
cally within the same country or
internationally between countries
customs.
Clearance Time (average monthly
rate of clearance): This is one of
the most common and positive
indicators to measure the service
efficiency performed by a customs
administration for the business
community; as it reflects the customs professionalism in performing its functions without delay.
Clearance time of private systems
shipments (average monthly rate):
It is one of the common indicators
to be used to assess how competent the service performed by
the customs department is for the
traders and importers who deal
through private customs systems
such as temporary permit, drawback, etc. This indicator reflects
how competent customs is in implementing specializing functions.
Release time for serving senior clients of importers: This indicator is
the most important performance
measurement indicator as this importers category represents more
than 50% of imports. Therefore,
shortening the release time for this
category means necessarily lowering the general rate of all imports
release time.
Release time for serving senior clients of exporters: This indicator is
one of the indicators complementary to the previous one that reflects
multi-interest for such category of
local exporters and producers who
export more than 50% of exports.
Therefore, shortening the time of
their shipment export procedures
means necessarily customs legal
encouragement and support to the
national industry and economy.
Monthly neglected rate average:
Some think that this indicator is
a secondary or good for nothing.
However, it is one of the important
indicators through which we can
know how clear and transparent
the customs procedures applied
to all categories are. The rise of imported goods rate that their owners leave for any reason whatsoever
reflects a procedural fact that is not
understandable or clear to dealers
with customs.
* Ratio of evaluation methods according to the first article: This
indicator reflects how customers
are committed and how Customs
is confident in customers as the
Customs acceptance of the actual
value means accepting the information provided by the importer.
Therefore, the confidence rate is
determined between the two sides
through
this
rate.
* The pre-query
system and its
service
progress (rate, fast
response accomplishment
after
receiv-
ing a request): The measurement
in this system is done through the
number of letters issued by customs departments to respond to
customers’ questions in the field
of pre-query of any customs work
matter whatsoever.
* Rate of the infringing goods
seized on the borders: The increase
of this rate, which is measured by
the number of seized goods compared with the total shipments
passing through the border port,
expresses that this port needs more
oversight and control as smugglers
consider it a good place for the passage of contrabands.
* Ratio of actual detection of goods
under the pre-release system: The
pre-release system is one of the systems that customs developed to facilitate or make it easier for customers. According to this indicator, the
number of cases of goods that are
actually detected gives a true perception about how responsive the
business community is with modern customs systems and how the
development processes are beneficial for them.
25
The Economist Report:
Qatar Customs is the Best
in GCC in Integrity
A report of Economist Intelligence Unit at “The Economist” assured that Qatar Customs was the
least affected by bribery among
GCC countries.
On a scale of 0 (the worst)-100
(the best), Qatar Customs stood
at 79.9, compared to the general
average of GCC at 65.8, followed
by the UAE and Oman, according
to Kuwaiti daily Al-Qabas. Bahrain
took the fourth place with 61.2
while Saudi Arabia ranked fifth.
This came as an outcome of the
General Authority of Customs’
efforts to develop its staff ethically and professionally at various
levels. GAC has been promoting
integrity as a key priority among
the values of work. A booklet distributed to all GAC
staff titled, (The ethics of the custom officer) highlights
the ethics of the profession. It includes a big number of
situations that the officer may encounter and how his
reaction should be, in case of being offered a bribe or
any other material incentives. This is in addition to the
excellent ethics of the GAC’s staff which are praised by
all dealers with the GAC. The GAC believes that ethics
are the title of man and it is necessary that its staff have
good ethics as they are the forefront of the state.
As for the human cadre rehabilitation practically, the
GAC has achieved great progress and essential achievements in Qatarisation side and employment of nationals. One of the most prominent successes fulfilled by
the GAC is 100% Qatarisation in the customs staff at the
land, sea or air ports. This assures its policy that aims
at depending on nationals especially in customs jobs
which are the basis of customs work. In the field of
training, during 2014 the number of staff that participated in training sessions was about 1909 employees.
They participated in internal and external training sessions.
26
As a part of the GAC’s interest in developing electronic
systems, and automation of all services to be a key tributary provided to improve services and meet the needs
and deals of customers, partners and affiliates to enable
them to get a set of vital services, the GAC has launched
many projects and strategic initiatives for the development of information technology and to facilitate the
procedures and at the top of which is the application of
the single window project known as “Al-Nadeeb” to develop customs clearance system. It facilitates customs
clearance electronically. It increases the actual cooperation between customs and other government authorities with regard to importing and exporting goods. The
system also is useful in tightening control over goods
and documentation of all procedures that would impose further controls on all customs transactions that
are done to each shipment or package.
It is worth mentioning that (The Economist) is an English weekly newspaper that cares about publishing
news and international affairs. It is known for specializing economic reports of states. It is owned by “The
Economist Newspaper Ltd.” and is released in London.
CUSTOMS Magazine - EDITION 58
Dana Mohammed Hussein .. Employee in Human Resources Department
Authority Doors Open before Women
to Assume Leading Posts
A woman at the General Authority of Customs contributed to achieving lots of achievement. She was keen to
have a key and effective role on the works she performs.
She participated in many areas and received the highest scientific and practical ranks in various disciplines.
Therefore, we find that a woman has proved her existence and effectiveness in the posts she occupies.
“Customs” magazine conducted a dialogue with this
Ms. Dana Mohammed Hussein, employee at Human Resources Department. From her speech, we have seen
her active role and excellence in her job performance.
How was your career beginning at the GAC?
I started working in customs on 25/04/2004 AD, immediately after I was graduated and obtained the bachelor
degree in administration and economics. In the beginning, I was working in the field of human resources.
Later, I moved to work in the Planning Department to
update employees’ data. Then, I moved to the Department of Finance and Administration Affairs, and finally
to the Human Resources Department.
The nature of my work in the human resources is to
prepare salaries and audit them and prepare the first
section budget.
Does your job require you to deal directly with the
staff?
Yes. At the beginning of my work, dealing directly was
difficult. However, by proceeding in work, practice and
be patient and diplomatic, I gained more expertise in
dealing with male and female employees due to the
prevailing colleagueship and cooperation among us
day after day. This means that the work environment
at the GAC is wonderful and stimulating for production, success and excellence.
What are the courses did you learn? Did you benefit from these courses in your work field?
The GAC cared about staff training
and development to ensure
their direct contribution to
preparing qualified personnel who are able to apply the best services
internally and
ex te r n a l l y.
Advanced an-
nual plans for training have been developed according
to the needs of staff. I was nominated to attend a large
number of courses, including accounting about salaries
and wages and a workshop for staff training and development. In addition, I attended the external course of
preparing salaries mechanism in Dubai. I benefited a
lot from these courses that have contributed to raising
the level of performance and acquisition of skills and
experience.
Throughout your career, have you been awarded a certificate of honor? Tell us about it.
Praise be to God, I got a certificate of thanks and appreciation. It was presented by the former President of the
GAC. It was in recognition of my efforts exerted in work.
This honor pleased my so much because I felt appreciated and satisfaction.
Tell us about your professional ambition .. What do
wish to be in the future?
I see that the doors are open to women in the GAC to
assume leading positions. This shows that Qatari women have become an essential element in the development of work. First, I wish that I develop and enhance
my professional abilities, then I reach the best grades
and acquire more knowledge and experience.
What is the final word to your colleagues in the GAC?
I extend my sincere thanks and appreciation to every
official who provides unlimited support to activate the
role of women through confidence in their abilities
and potentialities and giving them the opportunities
to demonstrate their role in what they do through encouragement and continuous support
to provide the best and create a spirit of
fair competition.
27
With a passenger coming from an Asian country
Customs foils an attempt to
smuggle 11 kg marijuana
T
he General Authority of Customs (GAC) cadres working at Hamad International Airport (HIA) have foiled
an attempt to smuggle 11kg of marijuana. This happened after a customs officer working at Hamad International Airport suspected the contents of the bag of
an Asian passenger coming from a transit flight from a
GCC country for the purpose of deception.
In this context, HE, GAC president Ahmed bin Ali alMuhannadi later honoured the Customs officer who
foiled the smuggling bid and thanked him for his efforts and his dedication to work. He also thanked the
efforts exerted by customs officers to care about and
stay up to protecting borders and encountering anyone
that harms the society through such harmful items. He
referred that Qatari Customs is keen on being a bulwark
against many drug smuggling operations that have
been failed by our watchful youth whose work honest
and seriousness have had a significant role to prevent
entering of such harmful items into the country. He
stressing on going on exerting efforts to support and
train officers through joining the ongoing training programs which are done in cooperation with the competent authorities serving all fields of customs work.
By his insight, the customs officer suspected the bag.
28
Consequently, this required transferring the bag for
inspection to make sure of its contents. During inspection, the narcotic substance was brought out from the
bag. Cooperation among customs officers was the reason for easing the seizure. The Department of Devices
and Control observed and pursued the bag since it was
suspected till it reached the area of inspection.
“I observed the bag and suspected it contained something. I informed the colleague observers till the bag arrived the inspection area and the banned items were
brought out. The narcotic substance was wrapped in
carbon paper,” Customs Officer Al Dossari said.
CUSTOMS Magazine - EDITION 58
He hide 84 gold alloy under his clothes
Qatar Customs: Seizing transit a passenger
trying to smuggle 6 kg gold
General Authority of Customs was able to seize a transit
passenger trying to smuggle 84 pieces of gold with a
total weight of 6 kg, following the suspicion of Revenue
Officer at Hamad International Airport Customs of the
passenger and referring him to self-inspection.
It happened when an Asian passenger coming from a
GCC country disclosed some pieces of gold in his bag.
He said that he wanted a transit flight. The golden
pieces in his bag were examined and a transit statement was given to him. When the passenger went to
complete the remaining procedures, the Revenue Officer suspected him and referred him to the competent office for self-inspection. The officer in his turn
found small packages wrapped and hidden in the passenger’s clothes lower his abdomen. And other pieces
were found on the right and left thighs. When opening
the packages, there were a variety of gold bullions, 84
pieces, weighing six and a half kilo grams, with a total
value exceeding 600,000 riyals.
From his side, Mr. Agab Mansour Al Qahtani, Director of
Customs of Hamad International Airport, assured that
the Revenues Officer suspected by his skill the passenger and referred him to the competent inspector whom
in his turn gets the golden pieces out of his clothes. He
stressed that the secret behind discovering this smuggled consignment was the professional competencies
of the human cadre in Qatar customs,
Seizing 5 Kilograms of Marijuana
in Hamad International Airport
The General Authority of Customs had prevented the attempt to smuggle a large amount that
weighed 5 kilograms of marijuana, upon the suspicions of a Customs employee in Hamad International Airport about the contents of a bag that
belongs to a passenger arriving from an Asian
country and transferring it to inspection.
On his part, Mr. Ajab Mansour Al-Kahtany, Direc-
tor of Customs in Hamad International Airport,
confirmed that the employee, due to his perception, had suspicions about the passenger, and
examined the contents of his luggage, which was
packed in a suspicious way that required it to be
transferred to inspection to check its contents.
Upon inspection, the narcotic substance, that was
tightly wrapped and mingled among some food
substances, was found.
29
Seizing a passenger holding 600 bullets during crossing the land port
Foiling Attempt to Smuggle 2894
Tramadol Tablets
T
he General Authority of Customs (GAC) seized a
large amount of narcotic ‘Tramadol’ tablets, 2894,
after a customs officer at Hamad International Airport
inspected a suspected bag belonging to a passenger
coming from an Arab country. Also two officers of the
Land Customs Department could seize 600 bullets from
a passenger coming through the Abu Samra border
port.
Chairman of the GAC Ahmed bin Ali Al Mohannadi honored inspectors who detected the two seizures, stressing on continuing the efforts for protecting the country
security and fighting such harmful items the smugglers
of which aim to harm society. He emphasized that the
customs is supporting its employees in all ports and
providing them with continuous training in coopera-
30
tion with the competent authority in all customs work
fields.
By his insight, the customs officer of Hamad International Airport suspected the passenger and focused on
the item inside the bag which was packed in a strange
way. Consequently, the bag was transferred for inspection to make sure of its content. After inspection, the
narcotic substance was brought out of the bag.
Cooperation among customs officers is a reason for
easing seizure. The Department of Devices and Controlling observed and pursued the bag since it was suspected till it reached the area of inspection. He pointed
out that once the seizure was done, legal actions were
taken immediately, a report was filed, the consignment
was confiscated, and the security authorities that are
responsible for receiving such a seizure were called.
The GAC followed up the subject.
CUSTOMS Magazine - EDITION 58
Back pain.. the most
common among
employees
Back pain is the second most common cause of chronic
ailment, in some countries, right after stress. People may
lose many work days because of work related back pain
and other musculoskeletal disorders.
The most common causes of back pain include muscles
or ligaments stress and wear, bad positions and fatigue.
Most of us suffer from back pain during a certain period
of our lives. Although back pain is annoying, it is not dangerous in most cases; as it usually lasts from a few days
to a few weeks and is often healed after about six weeks.
Generally, the best treatment is to keep active or to use
pain killers that are used, when necessary, without a
medical prescription. You may feel better when you go
to bed, but this will not help, it may make it worse.
The more a person remains still the more his muscles will
be weakened and his pain will increase on the long run.
One of the best ways to deal with the pain and help heal
a back is to keep on moving; by doing the usual activities
and returning to work as soon as possible. In addition,
any exercise that strengthens the legs, back and stomach will help keeping the back healthy.
Sitting to the computer, in a bad posture, for hours is a
cause of problems and troubles; as the body may bear
a single position for only a short period of time before
feeling the need to adjust such position.
The factors of work position that may affect the back include:
• Seat posture.
• Position of computer monitor.
• Seat height.
• Keyboard position.
• Mouse position.
• Stationary design.
If a person works in an office where he uses a computer,
he can avoid injuries by sitting in an upright position and
providing the office with the proper equipment.
If a person is not sure about his sitting posture in workplace, he should ask his manager to properly equip it. A
good posture while sitting to the office may help preventing the reoccurrence of fatigue related injury which
is the cause of back pain. Therefore, seat posture has to
be in an upright position and the lower back has to be
supported.
Seats in workplace must be, by law, steady and firm, the
standard office seat must be five legged in the form of a
pentagram, seat height must be adjustable and the back
part (the back rest) must be adjustable in height and tilt.
Ideally, the back rest should be able to move independently from the seat allowing a more comfortable position. When a person sits, thighs should be in right angle
on the body or slightly oblique downwards.
If a seat is properly adjustable, the feet should be put
firmly on the ground; however it is preferred, for more
comfort, to use a footrest. The basic rule is to flattening
the feet on the ground and support the back.
Taking periodic breaks from the office or work.
Changing activities throughout the day.
Sitting upright.
Working out regularly.
Losing extra weight.
One of the most important reasons of back pains, particularly at work, is lifting things or handling them incorrectly. Therefore, Learning and applying the right way to
lift things and handling them may help preventing back
pains.
But there are some basic points for safe lifting:
• Thinking before lifting things.
• Starting after taking a good position.
• Keeping the weight close to the waist.
• Keeping the back as straight as possible.
• Avoiding twisting or tilting the back.
• Keeping the held up.
• Realizing the one’s own limits and not pushing
them.
• Pushing heavy things instead of pulling or dragging.
• Weight equalization.
It is preferred not to sit in the same position for a long
time. Therefore, position should be changed as much as
possible.
31