Customs duties and taxes paid by declarants to the Senegalese customs administration saw a significant increase in 2024, amounting to 1,613 billion CFA francs, compared to 1,426.6 billion in 2023. The information was given by the General Directorate of Customs (DGD).
This 13% increase represents an absolute increase of 186.4 billion, attesting to a positive dynamic in the collection of customs revenue, reports the General Directorate of Customs (DGD) in a sheet dedicated to its customs achievements.
Between January and November 2024, “the efforts deployed in the fight against fraud showed results exceeding those of the entire year 2023. Indeed, at the end of November 2024, the achievements linked to litigation actions amounted to 67 .8 billion, compared to only 28.3 billion at the end of December 2023. This represents an increase of 39.5 billion in absolute value, a spectacular increase of 139.5% in relative value.”
Regarding the fight against transnational organized crime, seizures carried out by customs authorities have also seen a remarkable increase, from 4.4 billion in 2023 to 226.4 billion in 2024. Highlights of this year include significant seizures drugs, including 2,681 kilograms of cocaine, as well as the confiscation of black notes worth 11 billion.
The DGD attributes this notable performance to various efforts to better control the tax base, by focusing on specific categories of products, such as vehicles and imports from the informal sector. Among the measures taken, particular emphasis was placed on the operationalization of the Single Window Vehicle Customs Clearance Office (BGUDV), which has proven to be an effective tool for revenue collection.
The BGUDV saw its operational capacities strengthened, thus making it possible to increase its revenues, which increased from 109.9 billion in 2023 to 136.6 billion in 2024, which corresponds to an increase of 26.7 billion, or 24. 2%.
This improvement is also the result of the continued digitalization of customs units, thus facilitating an automated information management system which has been enriched with new offices in the 14 regions of the country. For example, the Rosso customs office recorded an increase in revenue from 9.3 billion in 2023 to 12.4 billion in 2024, an increase of 3.1 billion, which represents 33.3% of growth.
The results obtained by the DGD reflect close collaboration with leading partners, including other defense and security forces, port stakeholders, customs brokers and the national private sector.
In perspective, the DGD expresses its optimism regarding the resumption of economic activity planned for 2025, hoping that this, associated with a strengthening of the means of action, will make it possible to more optimally exploit the fiscal potential arising from imports. This synergy is essential to strengthen efforts to combat fraud and transnational organized crime, thus ensuring effective and exemplary customs management for the country.
Cheikh Tidiane NDIAYE
