NRA Joins West and Central African Customs Agencies in Liberia for Intelligence Summit
Sia Lucy Kannah A high-level delegation from Sierra Leone’s National Revenue Authority (NRA) joined regional customs leaders and security experts in Margibi County, Liberia, for the 17th Annual Joint Meeting of National Correspondents of the World Customs Organisation (WCO) Regional Intelligence Liaison Offices (RILO) for West and Central Africa.
The five-day summit focused on strengthening intelligence sharing, tackling cross-border smuggling, and confronting transnational organised crime across the sub-region.
This year’s conference convened under the theme: “Intelligence and regional cooperation in the service of a vigilant and committed Customs administration for the protection of society.” The Sierra Leonean delegation was led by John B. Amara, Commissioner for Border Control Management and other senior operational leaders from the NRA.
Speaking on the sidelines of the meeting, Mr Amara stressed the strategic value of cross-border partnerships in addressing evolving security challenges.
“This meeting provided a critical opportunity to strengthen collaboration among regional customs administrations, improve intelligence sharing, and enhance our collective response to cross-border threats,” said Amara.
Sierra Leone’s participation highlights the NRA’s broader agenda to modernise border management, stem revenue loss from illegal trade, and safeguard national borders while keeping trade flowing smoothly across the ECOWAS region.
By aligning with WCO-RILO intelligence standards, the NRA aims to enhance its operational capabilities at key border entries, such as the Jendema crossing with Liberia, to ensure robust protection against illicit trade networks.