Customs, ANIF seal deal to combat money laundering, terrorism financing.

The Customs Department has sealed a deal with the National Financial Investigation Agency, ANIF, to combat money laundering and terrorism financing. 
The agreement was sealed in Yaounde recently. 
The Director General of Customs, Edwin Fongod Nuvaga, signed on behalf of his institution while Nde Sambone appended his signature on behalf of ANIF which he heads.
According to both institutions, the purpose of the Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, is to define the framework for consultation, collaboration and exchanges of intelligence and data.
The same officials said the goal is to strengthen the fight against money laundering, terrorism financing, and proliferation of threats and customs fraud.
Going by the terms of protocol, both structures will pool data and information relating to financial transactions and operations subject to suspicious transaction reporting. They consider this as vital in the fight against money laundering, terrorism financing and customs fraud.
It is further spelt out in the deal that both institutions will issue alerts relating to suspicious transactions in connection with foreign trade operations as well as control undeclared physical transfers and cross-border circulation of cash and organised crime.

In addition, they will improve cooperation to collect, develop, enrich and analyse information, facts or transactions suspected of being related to money laundering, terrorism financing and customs fraud.
Besides sharing information on seizures of contraband, counterfeit, fraud and other illicit transactions, the Fongod-led Customs department will spontaneously share information to ANIF on fraudulent cases of cross-border physical transport of capital and bearer instruments.
They will also ensure that the transfer of funds without counterparty or supporting documents and false invoicing of commercial operations are repressed.
An information exchange platform will also be established between the Customs and ANIF, with the possibility of involving other national and international structures such as: the International Criminal Police Organisation, INTERPOL; and Action Group against Money Laundering in Central Africa, GABAC.
The established synergy between the General Directorate of Customs and the National Financial Investigation Agency is said to be in line with the theme of the 2024 International Customs Day celebrations.
The International Customs Day which will be in its 71st edition this year has been placed under the theme: “Focusing on customs service that mobilises its historical and new partners around clear objectives”.