Azerbaijan, Baku, July 23 / Trend /
As in previous years, the customs agencies continue to expand their role in forming budget revenues and successfully completed the first half of 2009, said Chairman of State Customs Committee Aydin Aliyev at the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers chaired by President Ilham Aliyev devoted to the results of socio-economic development in the first half, AzerTaj news agency reported.
"Taxes and fees were transferred to the budget. Compared to the predicted 639 million manat in the law of the Republic of Azerbaijan on public budget for 2009, 639.7 million manat were collected and transferred to the budget, which comprises 100.1 percent of the forecast. This figure hits the index of 2008 by 75.7 manat or 13.4 percent. The successes achieved during the reporting period were possible thanks to the measures taken," said the chairman of the committee.
Aydin Aliyev also spoke about the fight against violations of the rights of the customs authorities. He said they strengthened the struggle against violations of the rights in the work of customs. The customs officers revealed 1,380 violations of rights, and took appropriate measures against perpetrators.
In the speech, Aliyev paid a particular attention to the fight against drug trafficking. To prevent the smuggling of drugs across the border, staff working in this field was increased, international cooperation and information exchange was expanded. In January-June 2009, the customs authorities revealed 29 facts of drug trafficking (4 more than the same period of last year) and withdrew 178 kilograms of narcotics, including 47 kilograms of heroin.
"As a result of complex operational search activities, our officers revealed a large drug transport channel to China and Italy through Pakistan-Iran-Azerbaijan, and neutralized an organized criminal group of 15 people," he said.
In this period, 1,305 cases filed on administrative offenses, 346 corporate clients, including 90 foreign enterprises and 916 individuals, including 417 foreign individuals were made liable for discipline, penalties worth 242,000 manats were imposed, as well as goods worth 166,000 manat were confiscated, the chairman of the committee said.