Research On Co-governance Of Subordinate Customs Anti-smuggling In China

In 1998, facing a severe situation of smuggling and pervasive corruption, the General Administration of Customs (GAC) of China decided to establish an anti-smuggling police force under a new system of joint action, unified enforcement and comprehensive management. The executive agencies include the Smuggling Crime Investigation Bureau (SCIB) of GAC, the branch SCIB of direct-managed branch customs and subordinate SCIB at subordinate customs. In 2003, the GAC adjusted the functions of the SCIB to further include administrative law enforcement powers and renamed it to Anti-Smuggling Bureau (ASB). The anti-smuggling police with the increased criminal and administrative investigation powers has effectively combated the smuggling crimes and illegal import-export behaviors and maintained orderly customs functions. The implementation of the new anti-smuggling system would require joint and unified actions from the subordinate ASBs, however, institutional management problems has brought many difficulties and impeded the law enforcement at the subordinate ASBs. In this context, the author chose this particular issue as the research topic.The thesis consists of four chapters. The introduction section introduces the basis and the significance of the proposed research, as well as the related research in the field. Chapter I:the current situation of smuggling crimes and the background of the anti-smuggling system at subordinate ASBs. This chapter illustrated the importance and necessity of the research on the anti-smuggling system of subordinate ASBs and provided relatively clear background knowledge and situational reference for the customs anti-smuggling work. Chapter II:an inter-institutional relationship analysis of subordinate ASBs. Chapter III:the analysis of existing problems of the management of subordinate ASBs. The problems include incomplete formation of joint anti-smuggling action, ineffective vertical management, functionality division between subordinate customs and subordinate ASBs, isolation from the general police force and local governments, structural isomorphism and lack of police identity. Chapter IV:solutions to the problems in subordinate ASB management. Specific solutions to the problems at the ASBs are discussed that aim to comprehensively improve the effectiveness of the ASBs, with highlights on the establishment of key elements include the modern anti-smuggling concept, integrated anti-smuggling approaches, efficient vertical management system, smooth subordinate ASB organizational structure, coordination with subordinate customs, coordination with local governments and coordination with the local police.