Amidst an ongoing police investigation into the Customs Department, at least four online news sites reported on Aug. 19 that Customs Commissioner Wade Smith had been placed on administrative leave.
But government officials declined to confirm or deny the reports, or to provide any further information to the Beacon.
“Regrettably, considering this is an internal human resources matter, we are unable to provide you with any details at this time,” wrote government Communications Director Arliene Penn, who also declined to say who is currently heading the department.
The Deputy Governor’s Office referred questions back to Ms. Penn, and the Governor’s Office also declined to comment.
“I’m afraid we don’t comment on BVI government internal personnel issues,” Governor’s Office spokesperson Arron Rahaman wrote in an email.
Attempts to reach Mr. Smith were not successful.
Police probe
The Customs Department is currently under police investigation in keeping with a recommendation from the recent Commission of Inquiry report.
Governor John Rankin announced in May that he had instructed Police Commissioner Mark Collins to investigate possible corruption at the department, along with other probes.
“I am determined that investigations should be held in line with the Commission of Inquiry report and that any public official who has engaged in criminal wrongdoing should be brought to justice and held accountable under the law,” the governor said at the time. “I am also deter mined that where possible, public funds that may have been misused in relation to the projects under investigation should be recovered and used instead for programmes that benefit all members of our community.”
COI findings
Though Mr. Rankin didn’t provide further details, the COI reviewed the Import Duty Partial Payment Plan and the Customs Automated Processing System and Courier Trading Declaration Process at the agency.
The inquiry identified multiple issues with officers’ efforts to recover fees and with potential conflicts of interest.
“The COI had neither the time nor the forensic resources to conduct an in-depth investigation of the practices within HM Customs,” COI Commissioner Sir Gary Hickinbottom wrote in his report.
As a result, he added, he was not in a position to say whether corruption, abuse of office or other serious dishonesty may have taken place in the department in recent years.
“However, although the HMC Commissioner Wade Smith was less willing to accept the wrongdoing in the ranks of customs officers to the extent that the [police commissioner] accepts it in the ranks of the [police force] — and did not accept that there was anything fundamentally wrong with the working of HM Customs — I consider it is equally worrying,” Sir Gary wrote.
The COI team also recommended a sweeping review of law enforcement and justice systems including customs.
Additionally, it advised that all serving customs and immigration officers “at all levels of seniority be subject to full vetting by an independent agency.” Mr. Rankin said earlier this month that efforts were under way to set up this agency.
Appointment
Mr. Smith headed the Customs Department from 2003 until 2018, when he stepped down to contest the 2019 general election. He didn’t win a seat in the House of Assembly, and he was re-appointed customs commissioner in August 2020.
During his 2003-2018 stint at the agency’s helm, his achievements included the development of initiatives to improve border security in the fight against human, weapons, bulk cash smuggling and commercial fraud, government stated at the time of his reappointment.
Mr. Smith also spearheaded the development of the first K-9 Unit in the territory; implementation of the Customs Automated Processing System; the coordination of security details for past United States presidents, world leaders and their families; and the strengthening of marine capabilities, government stated.
Mr. Solomon reported this story from Guyana.