Bribing a porter at customs

Question

A person goes to perform Hajj and on the way back brings some goods on which customs duty is levied. That person brings these goods in concealed, with the help of a porter, and gives him some sum exceeding his wage, which, according to the porter, is distributed right up to the officials. Will this sum given to the porter in excess of the wage be called a bribe or not?

Answer

What hesitation can there be about this being a bribe? And the threat of punishment (wa‘id) concerning bribery is also true. This threat is not for one who gives a bribe to obtain his own right or to escape oppression (zulm). This tax is sheer oppression. What necessity is there at all to bring, without need, such goods that a bribe has to be given to save them?

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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