Il-ġimgħa l-oħra, fl-okkażżjoni  ta’ Jum id-Dwana, fi żmien fejn ukoll id-Dipartiment tad-Dwana qed ifakkar il-50 Anniversarju tal-Customs Union, id-Dwana inawgurat it-Taqsima l-ġdida tal-Klieb, fi ħdan it-Taqsima tal-Infurzar, flimkien mal-introduzzjoni ta’ apparat sofistikat analitiku, imħaddem mill-Customs Intelligence Service.
L-Canine Unit, magħmula minn tmien canine teams u instructor, u l-apparat teknologiku u investigattiv huma ntiżi biex jghinu lid-Dipartiment tad-Dwana fil-ġlieda mingħajr waqfien kontra l-kuntrabandu u attivita’ illegali oħra marbuta mal-importazzjoni ta’ oġġetti maħsuba biex jevadu t-taxxa jew li l-importazzjoni tagħhom hi kontra liġi, fosthom tabakk, flus, sustanza narkotika u prodotti kontrafatti.  

F’dan il-każ, il-Kummissjoni Ewropeja, taħt l-awspiċi tal-OLAF (European Anti-Fraud Office), b’sinjal ta’ għarfien u rikonoxximent tal-importanza tal-impenn tad-Dwana, ipprovdiet aktar minn €220,000, f’għotja ta’ 80% finanzjament tal-ispiża involuta f’dan il-programm.
Id-Dwana hi determinata, kif deher biċ-car proprju din il-ġimgħa fil-qabda mastiċċa ta’ droga, li tkompli tħares bla heda l-fruntieri tal-pajjiz.  Bl-għodda għad-dispożżiżżjoni tagħha, u li dejjem hi impenjati li żżid, id-Dwana tgħin mhux ftit biex it-taxxi kollha dovuti jkunu mħallsa, iċ-ċittadin ikun imħares minn importazzjoni perikoluża u illiċita u n-negozju u n-negozjant igawdu suq ekwu għal kulħadd.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Media Release: Malta Customs receives €220,000 grant from OLAF’s Hercules III programme

Last week, on the occasion of Customs Day, together with the commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Customs Union, Malta Customs had the pleasure of inaugurating the new Canine Unit, within the Enforcement Directorate, and the introduction of sensitive analytical equipment, within the Customs Intelligence Service.
The Canine Unit, composed of eight canine teams and an instructor, and the technological and investigative equipment will assist significantly the Department of Customs in combating incessantly against contraband and other illegal activity related to the importation of either prohibited goods or merchandise with the intention of evading tax, like tobacco, currency, narcotics and counterfeit goods.

For this purpose, the European Commission, through OLAF (European Anti-Fraud Office), wanted to give a clear signal of recognition  toward Malta Customs' dedication and efforts through the provision of over €220,000 in the form of grant by way of 80% financing of this programme's expenditure. 
The Department of Customs is determined, as clearly evidenced precisely in this week's massive catch of narcotics, to continue guarding relentlessly Malta's borders.  With the equipment at its disposal, together with other equipment in mind, Malta Customs provides the necessary safeguards for the collection of all taxes due to the public coffers and in order that the public may be protected against the importation of dangerous or illicit goods.  Additionally, the Department's efforts at the country's borders render a level playing field environment for the purpose of competitiveness to free trade in general and genuine businessmen in particular.