22 auditors and inspectors of the Regional Customs of Puerto Montt They were trained in the detection and safe handling of weapons and ammunition, an activity that was carried out jointly with the Special Operations Group (GOPE) and the Criminalistics Laboratory (Labocar) of the Carabineros of the Los Lagos Region.
According to the guidelines for ongoing training of Customs officials in various subjects related to border control and security, among other topics, the characteristics and identification of types of weapons and ammunition, their parts and pieces, registration, transportation, inscription and accreditation regulations, as well as violations of Law 17.798 on arms control were included.
Detection was also carried out in a practical manner at the facilities of the General Directorate of Civil Aeronautics (DGAC) at El Tepual International Airport, where the scanner equipment was used to identify possible forms of concealment, placing emphasis on the identification of parts and pieces, a modality that has been widely used in recent times.
Training was also provided on best practices associated with the identification of adulterated weapons, their parts and pieces; general recommendations on documents that prove the legal entry of weapons and items specified in the law and the criteria associated with the entry of items carried by passengers or crew members.
Finally, in a 100% practical module, Carabineros explained in detail the assembly and disassembly of the most common weapons, safe handling and their components and fundamental parts, in addition to an exhibition of homemade weapons and best practices for their identification.
At the closing of the activity, the Regional Director of Customs of Puerto Montt, Pablo Elvenberg, highlighted that “it was a highly technical and very beneficial training for all participants, especially because it had practical aspects, giving them the opportunity to review the legal aspects established in the normative bodies that regulate the Law on the Control of Arms and Explosives, the forms of illicit trafficking of arms, their parts and ammunition and, most importantly in my opinion, that our officials were instructed in the safe handling of these dangerous goods.”
He added that Customs in the Los Lagos Region “has maintained a permanent collaboration and cooperation with the institutions associated with our work, working in specialized areas and joint operations, and training in various subjects of common interest, an example of which is this activity that ends today and that was materialized thanks to the support of Carabineros and the DGAC. Thus concludes this activity that is undoubtedly of great interest due to the multiple functions that we carry out daily at the land, air and sea borders of our region.”
In turn, the Head of the Los Lagos Zone of the Carabineros, General Carlos López, indicated that the institution “has been committed to supporting institutions as relevant to regional affairs as Customs. An example of this is the training that we are completing today, as well as the integrated work of OS7, OS9 and SEVB with the Customs Inspection Department and its regional director.”
“I would also like to highlight the training that is carried out at a regional level by Customs for our Carabineros at the borders, prior to the start of the summer period at the mountain points of the Border Checkpoints of 'El Bolsón' and 'El León', reinforcing customs regulations, in one of our many roles protecting the borders. This training is the first stage completed and, later, a second stage will be carried out, which is the detection and safe handling of explosives and fireworks.”
Finally, the Head of El Tepual International Airport, Rodrigo González, He stressed that “we have developed collaborative work with different public services, including the Puerto Montt Customs Office, promoting coordinated work such as, for example, the reception of the presidential plane from Colombia a few days ago, and today also supporting requirements such as the facilitation of our offices and the operation of our scanner equipment, in order to meet the objectives of this training. That is what corresponds to us as public institutions: to carry out integrated management and, through this, optimize the available public resources.”
Aduana News is the first Argentine customs newspaper to launch its digital version. With 20 years of experience, its publications and initiatives aim to provide the most relevant knowledge on customs issues in order to contribute to safe trade in the region.
