Abstract
It is in times of crisis that a country’s customs authority is required to respond in the most radical of ways – whether the crisis is caused by natural disasters such as the devastation of a tsunami, the impact of a global pandemic, the horror of a terrorist attack, or the evil carnage of war.
It is at such times that the rule book is cast aside due to its inability to provide an adequate response to the crisis at hand. Established policies, processes and procedures become meaningless. The threat being faced may defy the rules of logic, and in many cases it is being driven by a force that spurns the rule of law.
In 2001 we witnessed the atrocious terrorist attacks in the United States which killed almost 3,000 people and injured thousands more. What occurred in 2001 was a dramatic increase in the risk of terrorism on a scale that demanded significant regulatory reform and, as a result, a significant change to the Customs role in an effort to effectively respond to the new realities of international trade and travel. The circumstances were such that the changes could not be made incrementally. This was no recalibration on the part of the World Customs Organization and its member administrations - this was a revolutionary transformation.
Sadly, we are again witnessing acts of terrorism that continue to disrupt peaceful societies and blatantly ignore sovereign borders in a way that shows a total disregard for international security and stability. We are deeply saddened by the death and destruction which is occurring in Ukraine – the likes of which has not been seen for many years. And this is occurring for no other reason than to satisfy a selfish, despotic ambition at the expense of anyone and anything that stands in the way of its achievement.
What is now occurring in Ukraine is not reflective of an evolutionary change to the environment in which Customs is required to operate, the change is profound and has required a radical re-think of the way in which Customs can contribute to the security of the State, most importantly in terms of the safety and security of its citizens.
It is at such times that the rule book is cast aside due to its inability to provide an adequate response to the crisis at hand. Established policies, processes and procedures become meaningless. The threat being faced may defy the rules of logic, and in many cases it is being driven by a force that spurns the rule of law.
In 2001 we witnessed the atrocious terrorist attacks in the United States which killed almost 3,000 people and injured thousands more. What occurred in 2001 was a dramatic increase in the risk of terrorism on a scale that demanded significant regulatory reform and, as a result, a significant change to the Customs role in an effort to effectively respond to the new realities of international trade and travel. The circumstances were such that the changes could not be made incrementally. This was no recalibration on the part of the World Customs Organization and its member administrations - this was a revolutionary transformation.
Sadly, we are again witnessing acts of terrorism that continue to disrupt peaceful societies and blatantly ignore sovereign borders in a way that shows a total disregard for international security and stability. We are deeply saddened by the death and destruction which is occurring in Ukraine – the likes of which has not been seen for many years. And this is occurring for no other reason than to satisfy a selfish, despotic ambition at the expense of anyone and anything that stands in the way of its achievement.
What is now occurring in Ukraine is not reflective of an evolutionary change to the environment in which Customs is required to operate, the change is profound and has required a radical re-think of the way in which Customs can contribute to the security of the State, most importantly in terms of the safety and security of its citizens.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | МИТНИЦЯ УКРАЇНИ В УМОВАХ ВІЙНИ ТА ПОВОЄННОГО СТАНУ |
| Subtitle of host publication | МАТЕРІАЛИ ДИСКУСІЙНОЇ ПЛАТФОРМИ |
| Place of Publication | Dnipro |
| Publisher | University of Customs and Finance |
| Pages | 5-7 |
| Number of pages | 3 |
| Publication status | Published - 2022 |