Morocco’s customs authorities have expanded their use of artificial intelligence and digital risk-analysis tools to identify potentially undervalued imports, auditing commercial documents and files involving goods worth nearly 650 million dirhams ($65 million), according to Hespress AR sources familiar with the matter.
The audits were launched after customs officials detected risk indicators linked to the declared values of imported goods, the sources told Hespress.
The National Customs Investigation Unit analyzed large volumes of import data before isolating files that showed discrepancies between invoice prices and reference values for the same or similar goods in countries of origin, according to the sources.
The investigation then expanded to Moroccan importers and foreign exporters involved in the transactions.
Customs officials examined invoices and commercial documents accompanying customs declarations and compared them with databases and other information available to the administration, including data exchanged with foreign customs authorities and professional organizations.
The analysis allowed officials to reassess the declared value of several shipments and determine whether the prices reported during customs clearance were consistent with prevailing prices in foreign markets, the sources said.
The audits resulted in cases where customs values were revised after discrepancies were identified in declared prices, according to the sources.
The resulting adjustments generated nearly 50 million dirhams ($5 million) in additional revenue through duties, fines and other collection-related charges, they said.
The digital tools used in the risk analysis allowed customs officials to cross-reference large volumes of information and identify unusual patterns in import declarations, particularly repeated imports of similar goods at significantly different prices.
Officials also examined discrepancies between declared values and prices recorded among foreign suppliers and in external markets.
The investigation extended to invoices issued by foreign exporters considered to present elevated risk indicators, with several based in China and other Asian countries, according to the sources.
Customs officials examined the commercial relationships between those exporters and Moroccan importers, as well as the sequence of invoices, shipping operations and payments, to verify the accuracy of the values submitted during customs clearance.
The audits also covered sectors that had not previously been among the main targets of intensive customs monitoring after data analysis identified potential risks involving the declared value of certain imported goods.
According to the sources, suspected undervaluation can affect not only customs revenue but also competition in the domestic market by reducing the tax and customs costs incurred by some importers.
Customs authorities have also strengthened their investigations by cross-referencing customs data with information held by other public administrations and institutions. This has enabled officials to compare import declarations with companies’ commercial, tax and financial records and identify discrepancies warranting further investigation.
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