Ethiopian authorities detain 91 in alleged customs and revenue crime probe
A deputy customs commissioner is among 91 people detained after Ethiopian authorities identified 109 suspects in an investigation into alleged tax manipulation, forged payment records and deletion of electronic data.
In short
- A deputy customs commissioner is among 91 people detained after Ethiopian authorities identified 109 suspects in an investigation into alleged tax manipulation, forged payment records and deletion of electronic data.
Ethiopian authorities have detained 91 people, including Ethiopian Customs Commission Deputy Commissioner Azezew Chane, as part of an investigation into alleged organised economic crimes involving the country’s revenue and customs administration.
The Reporter Ethiopia said on August 6, 2026, that Government Communication Service Minister Enatalem Melese announced that investigators had identified 109 suspects allegedly connected to networks accused of manipulating tax assessments, processing forged payment receipts and deleting electronic records.
The alleged conduct caused losses in government revenue, according to the minister. Authorities say accounts held by suspects, relatives and associates were among those linked to the investigation.
Enatalem described the arrests as part of a wider effort to shield Ethiopia’s macroeconomic reform programme from corruption, contraband and what the government calls organised economic sabotage.
The allegations have not been proven in court. The source report did not provide a response from Azezew or the other detainees, specify charges filed against them, state the value of the alleged revenue loss, or give a timetable for court proceedings.
The case is significant because customs and domestic-revenue collection are central to government financing and Ethiopia’s broader economic reform agenda. Further reporting will be needed to establish the evidence against individual suspects and the status of any formal prosecutions.
