Senior officials from the Royal Customs and Excise Department (RCED), Ministry of Finance and Economy, attended the 147th/148th Sessions of the World Customs Organization (WCO) Council held in Brussels, Belgium from 25 to 27 June 2026.
The delegation was led by Acting Controller of Customs Muhammad Azizil Hakim bin Haji Brahim.
The annual WCO Council sessions, chaired by Council Chairperson Bashir Adewale Adeniyi alongside WCO Secretary General Ian Saunders, brought together heads of customs from 187 member administrations to set the global customs agenda for the year ahead.
Discussions focused on strengthening the role of customs in safeguarding society, facilitating legitimate trade, and enhancing global economic security. Member states also examined emerging cross-border challenges, including illicit trade, commercial fraud, digitalisation, performance measurement, and the adoption of new technologies to strengthen customs operations.
Special addresses delivered by the President of the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) and the Secretary General of INTERPOL highlighted the importance of closer cooperation between customs authorities and international law enforcement agencies in tackling transnational crime.
Member administrations reviewed progress under the WCO Strategic Plan and considered updates to international standards, guidance materials and capacity-building initiatives. These included developments under the Harmonized System 2028 amendments, digitalisation tools, trade facilitation measures, and enforcement operations aimed at strengthening secure global supply chains.
Brunei Darussalam reaffirmed its commitment to contributing to the work of the WCO and enhancing international customs cooperation in support of secure borders, legitimate trade facilitation and modern customs administration aligned with global best practices.