The National Customs Service installed two new X-ray machines last Wednesday (18.10.2023) at the Arturo Merino Benítez International Terminal, Chile's main airport (northwest of Santiago), with the aim of strengthening the exercise of its supervisory powers.
This milestone was achieved thanks to the effective coordination and work with the Nuevo Pudahuel concessionaire and other key actors such as the Investigative Police, the Agricultural and Livestock Service, the General Directorate of Civil Aeronautics and the Tax Inspector. An agreement was reached to add these important tools that seek to continue strengthening the work of Customs at the air terminal.
Jorge Yany, National Head of the Operations Department (S), commented that “it is our duty, and part of the roles we fulfill as Customs, to always be alert to new ways that people have of bringing illegal merchandise into the country. We have seen how hand luggage was used to bring undeclared products, so having these scanners, in that specific place, will only help to continue strengthening the work of officials.”
The machines are operational in the hand luggage screening area and have been positioned in that area after conducting an analysis of passenger flows and the behavior of those entering Chile via the airport.
This control process supported by the use of X-ray technology allows the Service's officers to efficiently address the risks associated with the smuggling of both illicit goods (normally drugs, weapons and ammunition) and legal goods, which passengers commonly carry in their hand luggage to avoid paying duties (jewelry, cell phones, watches, purses and wallets of high-end brands, among others).
“This technology will allow us to visualize the structure and content of hand luggage, thereby detecting hidden compartments and false bottoms which, in addition to attempts to smuggle illicit goods, can also be used to transport significant amounts of foreign currency, which, because they have not been properly declared, could be linked to activities associated with money laundering or the financing of other illicit activities,” argued Jorge Yany.
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