WASHINGTON, D.C.— U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Senegal Customs signed a Customs Mutual Assistance Agreement on April 27 in Senegal marking a significant milestone in collaboration on security and trade facilitation between the two countries. The agreement was signed by CBP Commissioner R. Gil Kerlikowske and Director General Papa Ousmane Gueye. With this new agreement, the United States now has 73 Customs Mutual Assistance Agreements around the world.
“This agreement strengthens our resilience against threats by expanding cooperation and information sharing with Senegal,” said Commissioner Kerlikowske “The Customs Mutual Assistance Agreement will greatly facilitate U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s work to prevent, detect, and investigate Customs offenses.”
"This agreement reflects our joint commitment to tackling transnational criminal organizations and national security threats who seek to exploit financial and trade systems,” said ICE Director Sarah R. Saldaña. “Information sharing is a critical component to our already strong bilateral relationship with the government of Senegal. ICE, through our Attaché Dakar office, looks forward to implementing new initiatives with our Senegalese counterparts based on today’s signing of this important customs cooperation agreement.”
CMAAs provide the legal framework for the exchange of information and evidence to assist countries in the enforcement of Customs laws, including duty evasion, trafficking, proliferation, money laundering, and terrorism-related activities. CMAAs also serve as foundational documents for subsequent information sharing arrangements, including mutual recognition arrangements on authorized economic operator programs.