Customs Directorate increases patrols outside Syria’s damascus
DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – On Friday, truck drivers arriving in Damascus expressed their resentment towards blackmail and extortion by customs patrols deployed on the main roads and entrances to the city.
The patrols stop any car carrying anything, and “ask for a bribe” regardless of the type of load, according to drivers.
“We are suffering due to the blackmail by the deployed customs patrols, which stop me where ever I go,” truck driver Ra’id Jadallah told North Press.
“I pay half of what I make as bribes, which were 2,500 Syrian pounds (SYP) last year, while today it is between 8,000 and 10,000 SYP,” he added.
“The patrols do not look at the customs declaration or the documents; they are concerned only about the bribe under the threat of seizure and confiscation of the shipment,” he pointed out.
“I had to raise the price of freight charges for transporting the goods, which increased the prices of foodstuffs that I distributed in the countryside,” truck driver Tahssin Manouf told North Press.
“We are forced to increase the price due to the pressure that truck drivers witness by customs,” he added.
“Transportation charges increased by about 50% due to the bribes that we are forced to pay to customs,” he said.
It is noteworthy that customs workers, like those who work for other government institutions, are now unable to secure their livelihood without bribes, which shows the extent of government failure and burden on the population in the light of deteriorating living conditions.
“Daraa-Damascus line has become a gathering for the customs patrols, that do not let any truck to pass without paying bribes,” truck driver Hikmat al-Sa’di told North Press.
“If the truck does not stop by a patrol, it will inform the next patrol, which doubles the bribe,” he added.
“They have no choice or ability to confront these patrols, that have turned into a mafia and a gang working to paralyze the population and share their livelihoods instead of stopping the smuggling that is burdening the country and the population,” he pointed out.