NIK report suggests that customs work system may encourage corruption

The Supreme Board of Inspection (NIK) has stated that the work system of Poland' s customs officers may still encourage corruption. In detailing the problems, the NIK pointed out that in most cases, it is the same officer who checks documents, searches goods and calculates tax. The report was also critical of the size of bonuses offered to customs officers who prevent smuggling. For example, customs officers at Olsztyn who uncovered a case of smuggling involving goods worth zl.38.5 million received a bonus of just zl.300 each. In response to the NIK criticisms, president of the Central Customs Office (GUC), Zbigniew Bujak, said that a new work system for custom officers would be introduced following planned organizational reforms that would see the creation of new, bigger offices. (Rzeczpospolita, p. A4) A.D.