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President Julius Maada Bio has addressed the 32nd Conference of Directors General of Customs of the World Customs Organization (WCO) West and Central Africa Region, held on 7 May 2026.
In his address, President Bio called for the effective implementation of the ECOWAS Common External Tariff to strengthen regional integration, protect local industries, and facilitate lawful trade across West Africa.
Delivering the keynote speech on the theme “A Customs Service that Protects Society Through Its Vigilance and Commitment,” President Bio described vigilance in customs administration as a national obligation that must be institutionalized to safeguard security, economic stability, and public trust.
He further emphasized that customs services remain among the most critical but often underappreciated institutions of the modern state, serving as the frontline of national protection and economic governance.
“Customs is not simply a checkpoint at the edge of the state; it is the frontline of the state itself,” President Bio stated. “Most people think about the medicine in pharmacies, the food in markets, and the equipment in hospitals, but they do not often consider the line that stands between legitimate goods and what must never cross our borders. You are that line.”
He added that behind every intercepted shipment is a life protected, noting that the seizure of counterfeit medicines saves lives, the interception of illegal weapons secures communities, and the prevention of illicit trade strengthens public confidence in state institutions.
President Bio warned that West and Central Africa continue to face increasing threats from illicit trade, narcotics trafficking, terrorism financing, counterfeit medicines, environmental crimes, and the smuggling of arms and endangered species.
He stressed that digital transformation in customs administrations is now urgent and unavoidable, highlighting the importance of automation, electronic single-window systems, digital payments, non-intrusive inspection technologies, cargo tracking, and advanced data analytics in modern border management.
President Bio reaffirmed Sierra Leone’s commitment to working closely with regional partners to build real-time intelligence-sharing systems capable of responding effectively to the speed and complexity of emerging security and trade challenges.
