LRA Links Billion-Dollar Revenue Target to Regional Intelligence-Sharing

The Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) says intelligence-sharing among customs administrations across West and Central Africa is critical to protecting government revenue, preventing illicit trade, and disrupting criminal networks operating across borders.

Customs Commissioner Saa Saamoi says identifying smugglers, detecting falsified trade documents, and sharing information on cross-border criminal activities are essential to strengthening Liberia's revenue protection efforts.

Saamoi spoke Monday during a media engagement marking Liberia's hosting of the 17th Joint Annual Meeting of the Regional Intelligence Liaison Office (RILO) National Contact Points, which brought together more than 40 participants from different countries.

He explained that the expansion of global trade has increased the responsibility of customs authorities to facilitate legitimate commercial activities while preventing criminal networks from exploiting cross-border trade routes.

According to him, the regional intelligence network allows participating countries to collect, analyze, and disseminate information that can support coordinated efforts against transnational crimes.

Saamoi said the work goes beyond intercepting prohibited goods, stressing that intelligence operations also help prevent revenue losses that could undermine government financing.

"What this intelligence does is that, first, it helps us to deal with the criminal network; two, it helps us to protect the revenue, and as we protect the revenue, then you will see that the revenue grows," he said.

He linked the importance of the intelligence network to the LRA's recent announcement that domestic revenue collections had crossed the one-billion-dollar mark, saying efforts to prevent smuggling and other forms of illicit trade contribute to the country's revenue performance.

The Customs Commissioner also challenged the media to give greater attention to crimes prevented through intelligence operations rather than focusing only on seizures of drugs, arms, and other prohibited goods.

"But the real emphasis should be how many thousands, how many hundreds of other things that would have happened, other crimes that would have been committed, other violations that would have been committed, have we not put mechanisms in place?" Saamoi stated.

He argued that the absence of visible seizures does not necessarily mean customs enforcement efforts are ineffective, noting that intelligence-led operations often disrupt criminal activities before they are carried out.

Saamoi further disclosed that the regional meeting is expected to produce practical recommendations to improve intelligence collection, data analysis, and the timely sharing of information among customs administrations.

He emphasized that intelligence must not only be collected and analyzed but also disseminated promptly and acted upon if countries are to achieve meaningful results.

The recommendations from the meeting will be elevated to the heads of customs administrations in West and Central Africa, with a report expected to be presented in the first quarter of 2027.

Saamoi described Liberia's hosting of the meeting as an important step in strengthening its participation in regional customs cooperation, noting that the country has been an active member of the intelligence network through its national contact point.

He said the gathering provides an opportunity for participating countries to jointly assess emerging criminal threats and develop practical measures to strengthen border security and protect their respective economies.