Goods clearance delayed

Short-staffed Customs to blame

Personnel shortage at the Customs office is delaying the admission of goods, according to the Syndicate of Licensed Clearing Agents in Lebanon (SACAL).

Ghassan Soubra, Head of SACAL, said clearing agents are facing difficulties in defraying shipments at the Port of Beirut and Beirut Airport. “The biggest problem is the numerous vacancies at the Customs administration.” Soubra estimated that some 70 percent of positions at the Customs office are vacant.

To clear merchandise, agents currently process their operations through interim employees. Soubra said cargo was being cleared through express mail to speed the process. “This has caused even more delay in the clearance of goods,” he said. SACAL is set to meet with the Ministry of Finance in order to find effective solutions.