Article of Dr. Amna Naeem, Additional Director, Adjudication-I, Karachi, COPES Regional Expert, on the occasion of International Customs Day 2026

International Customs Day (ICD), observed annually on 26 January, provides an opportunity to recognize the vital role played by Customs administrations in securing borders, facilitating legitimate trade, and protecting society from illicit cross-border activities. Established by the World Customs Organization (WCO) to commemorate the founding of the Customs Cooperation Council in 1953, ICD serves not only as a celebration of Customs professionals worldwide but also as a platform to reaffirm shared values and strategic priorities.

For 2026, the WCO has selected the theme “Customs protecting society through vigilance and commitment.” This slogan reflects the evolving responsibilities of modern Customs administrations, emphasizing the need for constant alertness, professional integrity, and sustained institutional dedication in the face of increasingly complex global trade and security challenges. In Pakistan, this theme resonates strongly with the day-to-day realities of Customs enforcement and aligns closely with the ongoing efforts in recent years to strengthen capacity through targeted WCO initiatives, particularly the Customs Operational Practices for Enforcement and Seizures (COPES) Programme.

Pakistan Customs operates in a uniquely challenging environment. The country’s strategic geographic location, long and porous land borders, major seaports, and busy international airports expose it to risks like smuggling, narcotics trafficking, misdeclaration, trade-based money laundering, counterfeit goods, and the movement of non-duty-paid or unsafe commodities. Addressing these threats requires not only physical infrastructure and technology but, above all, a vigilant, skilled, and committed Customs workforce. COPES has played a critical role in strengthening this human capacity.

The COPES concept emerged from the recognition among WCO Members of the need to improve evidence collection standards and better integrate Customs enforcement into the broader criminal justice system. Since its development into a full-fledged WCO programme, COPES has focused on strengthening seizure procedures, evidence handling, investigations, and prosecutions, while ensuring compliance with international standards, national laws, and human rights obligations. For Pakistan Customs, COPES has provided a structured framework to modernize enforcement practices and move from routine, transaction-based checks to intelligence-led and risk-based border management.

A core contribution of COPES training in Pakistan has been the enhancement of vigilance through intelligence and risk management. Officers trained under COPES are equipped with modern techniques such as profiling, targeting, and analysis of trade data, enabling them to identify high-risk consignments with greater precision. This approach allows Customs to deploy limited resources more effectively, increase interdiction success rates, and disrupt organized smuggling networks. It also strengthens Pakistan Customs’ ability to respond proactively to emerging threats rather than relying solely on reactive enforcement.

Equally important is the emphasis COPES places on professional commitment and lawful enforcement. The programme instills international best practices in seizure procedures, documentation, evidence preservation, and post-seizure investigations. Officers are trained to conduct enforcement actions that are transparent, legally sound, and capable of withstanding judicial scrutiny. This focus directly supports the ICD 2026 theme by reinforcing the idea that protecting society requires not only vigilance but also professionalism, integrity, and respect for due process.

The impact of COPES training is increasingly visible in Pakistan Customs’ enforcement outcomes. In recent fiscal years, Pakistan Customs has recorded a significant increase in seizures of smuggled and illicit goods, with values exceeding PKR 100 billion annually. Thousands of seizure cases have been registered nationwide, reflecting improved targeting and intelligence-based interdictions. These results demonstrate that enhanced vigilance, supported by structured training, translates into measurable operational success.

COPES has also strengthened Pakistan Customs’ capacity to combat misdeclaration and under-invoicing, which remain major sources of revenue leakage and unfair competition. Enforcement units trained under COPES have identified numerous high-value misdeclaration cases involving billions of rupees in goods, resulting in the recovery of substantial amounts of evaded duties and taxes. Such interventions not only protect the national exchequer but also promote a level playing field for compliant traders.

At the operational level, COPES-trained officers have contributed to high-profile seizures across major enforcement hubs including Karachi, Lahore, Quetta, Islamabad, and Multan. These operations have targeted a wide range of illicit activities, including smuggled vehicles, narcotics, counterfeit consumer goods, illicit cigarettes, and unsafe food items. Beyond revenue considerations, these enforcement actions directly safeguard public health and safety by preventing harmful products from entering domestic markets.

Capacity building under COPES has been deliberately designed to be sustainable. As of DECEMBER 2025, many newly recruited Assistant Collectors ,some additional collectors ,preventive officers, investigationand prosecution officers and inspectors  have completed intensive COPES training programmes lasting two to three weeks in Karachi, Islamabad  and Lahore. These  trainings cover contemporary enforcement challenges, investigative techniques, and emerging global trends. Practical exercises, including role-plays and scenario-based learning, have been particularly effective in bridging theory and practice.

To ensure institutional continuity, trained officers have been encouraged to share their knowledge with colleagues, creating a gradual trickle-down effect across Pakistan Customs. This approach has been reinforced through train-the-trainer initiatives, aimed at developing a pool of national instructors capable of delivering COPES-based training internally. Some officers have progressed toward COPES expert accreditation, enabling Pakistan Customs not only to sustain its own training efforts but also to contribute to regional and international capacity-building activities under the WCO framework.

Earlier milestones in this journey included the launch of the Customs Enforcement Curriculum for Assistant Collectors (CECAC) Project under the COPES Programme. Pilot trainings, institutional assessments, and train-the-trainer sessions conducted since 2021 laid the foundation for embedding COPES principles into Pakistan Customs’ enforcement culture. These initiatives have strengthened institutional ownership and ensured that international best practices are adapted to national realities.

The effectiveness of COPES training is further reflected in recent performance indicators. During the current and previous financial year, Pakistan Customs recorded a marked increase in the overall value of seized goods, including high-value cases identified exclusively through profiling techniques. Significant detections of narcotics, pharmaceuticals, and unsafe agricultural inputs underscored the growing maturity of intelligence-led enforcement. Crucially, seizures were properly documented and supported by evidence, leading to successful prosecutions and reinforcing Customs’ role within the judicial system.

International Customs Day serves as a reminder that Customs administrations are not merely revenue collectors or border controllers; they are guardians of society. In Pakistan, COPES training has strengthened this role by enhancing vigilance, reinforcing professional commitment, and fostering a culture of continuous learning and ethical enforcement. It has helped align national enforcement efforts with the WCO’s global vision while addressing Pakistan’s specific security, economic, and social challenges.

In conclusion, the International Customs Day 2026 theme and the WCO COPES Programme are closely aligned in both purpose and impact. Together, they highlight how vigilant, well-trained, and committed Customs officers can protect society, secure borders, and support economic prosperity. Pakistan Customs’ experience with COPES demonstrates that sustained investment in human capacity is essential for building a resilient, professional, and future-ready Customs administration capable of meeting the challenges of an increasingly complex world.

SOURCE: TaxHelpLine Team