DUSHANBE, July 17, 2008, Asia-Plus  -- Over the first six months of this year, customs officers have transferred to the national budget 776 million somonis (equivalent to $226 million), which is 108.5 percent of the target for this period and 272 million somonis more than in the same period of last year, Nematboy Rahmatov, the first deputy head of Tajikistan’s Customs Service, announced at a press conference in Dushanbe on July 17.  

According to him, the collection rate has improved not because of increase in exports/imports but due to regulating administrative measures and raising the efficiency of work of the customs bodies.  

Rahmatov noted that over the report period, customs officers have confiscated $208,092 worth of 315,834 kilograms of substandard goods imported into the country.  Part of the substandard goods has been destroyed, while another part has been re-exported.

The customs official also noted that 28 customs officers have been dismissed over the same six-month period for failing to carry out their work properly.