Fines in billions of SYP due to corruption in Syria-Jordan border crossing
DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – Syrian media outlets revealed on Tuesday several employees in the Nasib border crossing on the Syrian-Jordanian border were suspended over corruption claims.
The state-run al-Watan newspaper reported, citing a source in the border crossing, that several workers in various levels in the Nasib Customs were suspended. It also added that dozens of businessmen who brought goods through the border crossing lately are being investigated.
The newspaper said that the majority of estimations indicate that “The fines for the manipulated data, some of which are based on forged bank notices, amount to 200 billion Syrian pounds (SYP, which equals about $14,285,714) due to importing by smuggling.”
The source noted that the Customs clearance office was responsible for forging the customs data and notices. Some of the employees had facilitated the manipulation and forgery on purpose and others unintentionally.
After the incident was discovered the perpetrators fled the country according to the workers at the border crossing.
The investigations are ongoing with a significant number of workers who are involved or suspected of involvement or to complete investigations.