Trebil crossing: Two trucks seized for tariff-code manipulation to exploit exemptions

The Border Ports Authority announced on Wednesday, 14 October 2026, the seizure of two trucks loaded with empty cardboard cartons at the Trebil border crossing with Jordan after detecting manipulation of the tariff code and alteration of the cargo description.

The authority's spokesman, Alaa al-Din al-Qaisi, said that staff of the Trebil crossing directorate detected the violation during auditing procedures at the search and investigation gate, and it was determined that the two trucks were transporting empty cardboard originating from Jordan.

Al-Qaisi added that field inspection showed the tariff code had been changed and the description modified in order to include the goods under customs exemptions contrary to applicable regulations, stressing that this amounts to a waste of public funds.

An official seizure report was drawn up, and the two trucks were referred to the Trebil police station pending presentation of the case to the Rutbah investigative judge to take the necessary legal measures, the authority said.

The Trebil crossing is located in the far west of Anbar province and is the main overland crossing between Iraq and Jordan; large numbers of freight trucks pass through it daily, making it one of the most heavily inspected crossings.

The tariff code is the code that identifies the type of goods and the rate of duties imposed on them. Some violators change it to classify their shipments as exempt or subject to lower rates, depriving the state treasury of due revenues.

The incident comes at a time when the issue of customs exemptions has received wide attention after the government approved exemptions for imported food and medicine from duties.

The authority said that detecting such violations is repeated at land and sea crossings as part of its procedures to tighten oversight of imports and protect public funds.

Read alsoCabinet approves exemption for food and medicine and refers draft laws to parliament