Kuwaiti MP condemns corrupt Customs

A KUWAITI member of parliament has accused the local Customs department of corruption.Hassan Jowhar said that large amounts of airfreight at Kuwait International Airport are being held for excessive lengths of time due to corrupt activities and labyrinthine bureaucratic procedures. He referred to one case where a cargo aircraft was stranded at the airport for up to 10 days because of the corrupt demands.According to employees of the department, fewer than 40 employees regularly turn up for work. The general manager – Ibrahim Al-Ghanem – has allegedly been on extended sick leave for over 18 months.A freight forwarder that regularly ships through Kuwaiti Customs told Air Cargo News that the illegal activities and associated delays are preventing Kuwait from achieving as much international trade as it could.