Before the establishment of Customs Department, collection of customs duties was done by directors of provinces on behalf of the governor general and transmitted to the Financial Secretary. Department of Customs was established in 1905 as an independent government organization to collect indirect taxes from imports, exports and excise. The first director to be appointed was Mr. His Sadler who was holding the rank of Brigadier (English Nationality). He commended his responsibilities as from first January 1906. One of his most important achievements is the establishment of new 17 customs stations through out Sudan borders.
The customs department has been administered by (8) English directors until the independence in 1956.
The first Sudanese director was Mr. Mohamed Kamal Fareed. Then the list continues to include nine directors up to date.
B. The customs Headquarters:
I- Swakin was the first customs headquarters from 1906 - 1909.
II- From the period 1909 - 1914 it was transferred to Port-Sudan but in summer Sinkat was used as a temporary headquarters.
III- In 1914 the headquarters was transferred to Khartoum and was hosted in apart of the Ministry of Finance building. Then it was moved to Al Qasr Avenue and now it lies north east of El Huria Bridge since 1984.
c - The Legal Development:
The customs department implemented a number of customs laws since 1905. The later laws were amended laws to the previous ones to cope with trade and security developments, the list of laws used by customs department up to date include the following:
1- Customs act of 1905.
2- Customs act of 1906.
3- Customs act of 1913.
4- Customs act of 1926.
5- Customs act of 1939.
6- Customs act of 1984.
7- Customs act of 1986.
d - Latest Administrative Developments:
I - The Customs Department continued as one department until 1972.
II- In 1972 it was divided to two departments: Customs Department and Excise Department both chaired by the Director General.
III- In 1974 the two departments were merged into one under the title, department of customs and excise.
IV- In 1991 a presidential decree was issued whereby the Customs & Excise Department was converted into a regular force to combat smuggling under the supervision of Ministry of Interior.
Customs Stations
Totally there are 11 main custom stations throughout Sudan, Khartoum Customs Administration located at Khartoum state and has three branches. Customs stations in the North, station at Northern states Wadi Halfa Dongola, Karima and Daba (Not functioning). Stations at River Nile state, Abuhamad, Alabeedia, Atbara. Stations at Blue Nile state, White Nile state customs station, Gadarif state customs station, Kassala customs stations, there are two customs stations: Kassala and Hamdayet in addition to three control stations at Awad, Allafa and Karbayeb. North Kordufan state customs stations at Hamrat elsheikh. West Darfur state customs stations at Genena, Kulbus, Um Dukhun and For Baranga are (not functioning due to insecurity) South Darfur state customs stations: Nyala international airport , Umdafoug (seasonal and not functioning) North Darfur state customs stations: Kutum, Milleet and Tina Karnoy (not functioning due to insecurity). And finally customs station in the Southern states: Juba airport.
For further Information visit: http://www.customs.gov.sd/English/index.html
