Customs eyes scanning machines vs smuggling

The Bureau of Customs is pushing for the acquisition of at least two sophisticated scanning machines that will help stamp out technical smuggling.

The scanning machines, which costs $7 million each, are widely used in industrialized countries to detect illegal shipments concealed in container vans.

Customs Deputy Commissioner Ray Allas of the bureau’s intelligence and enforcement group (IEG) said the machines will help boost the government campaign against technical smuggling as they will scan all container vans which are the subject of alert orders.

"With the scanning machines, shipments suspected of containing contraband can be determined in a matter of minutes," Allas said.

Allas explained that it takes the bureau several hours to conduct physical examination on just one container van which is the subject of an alert order, adding that 10 to 20 container vans have to undergo manual examination everyday.

The funds for the acquisition of the scanning machines, according to Allas, will have to be sourced through local or foreign loans.

Allas said that US government has pledged to the bureau to help look for the source or sources of funds, saying the machines have become major requirements among Customs organizations world-wide as an added security measure in the global campaign against terrorism.

The Customs official said the scanning machines, which are mobile, will be used at Port of Manila and at the Manila International Container Port (MICP) in North Harbor where the biggest volume of shipments from abroad arrive on a daily basis.