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Juba – Al-Wadi Newspaper
The Minister of Trade and Industry, Atong Kuol Manyang Juuk, conducted a surprise inspection visit to Shaba General Trading Company following reports of unauthorized importation of shisha products without obtaining official permits from the Ministry of Trade and Industry.
The Minister was accompanied during the visit by the Undersecretary of the Ministry, Yel Luol Koor, the Director General of External Trade, along with a number of senior ministry officials. The inspection aimed to verify the company’s compliance with laws and regulations governing import activities.
In a press statement published on the Ministry’s official Facebook page following a meeting with the company’s Managing Director, the Ministry stated that Shaba General Trading, a subsidiary of the Ezra Group, despite being licensed to import specific tobacco products and cigarettes, had exceeded its legal mandate by importing shisha products without prior approval from the competent authorities. This resulted in the illegal entry of these products into the local market.
The Ministry’s leadership confirmed that it is currently reviewing the findings of the inspection to determine the appropriate legal actions. It noted that South Sudan’s import and export laws grant the Ministry the authority to impose financial penalties, suspend or ban the operations of violating companies, and seize unauthorized goods.
The Ministry reiterated its commitment to enforcing the law and ensuring discipline in commercial activities, stressing that any violation of existing regulations will be met with strict measures to protect the trade system and the public interest.
The Ministry of Trade and Industry is expected to issue its final decision regarding the penalties against Shaba General Trading Company in the coming days.
