Is it permissible to pay a sum of money to a customs officer to reduce the customs duty owed on imported goods, knowing that the goods cannot bear the original customs duty?

If customs duties are levied in exchange for services rendered to suppliers, then it is not permissible to evade them. However, if they are collected without any service in return, or in exchange for services whose value does not amount to the customs duty, then they are considered "maks" (unjust taxes) imposed on merchants without a rightful basis. In this case, there is no harm in repelling a greater injustice with a lesser one.