The authorities of the Honduran Customs Administration and the United States Department of Homeland Security through the US Customs and Border Protection Directorate (DHS/CBP), signed this Thursday (22.07.2021) a memorandum of understanding on security and control of cross-border transportation, with the purpose of combating transnational crime and promoting legal international trade between both countriesthe agency reported.
In this regard, the Executive Director of the Honduran Customs Administration, Juan José Vides He stated: “This Memorandum demonstrates the bilateral commitment to enhance cargo security, prevent and investigate crimes associated with goods crossing borders, combat crime and other transnational threats, while facilitating international trade in accordance with respective laws, jurisdictions and government policies.”
The aim is to improve the ability to identify and track cargo, transports, and companies that may represent a risk to supply chains, including those cargoes, transports, and companies that may be involved in customs crimes and transnational offences.
Debbie Seguin, Assistant Commissioner for International Affairs, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP, in English), said that “By being partners, Honduras will have the possibility of having access to real-time analysis of cargo and passenger manifests; in this sense, we will be able to work better together with CBP.” He added: “This will make a big difference and will strengthen our relationship for new joint initiatives.”
In that line, Blas Nunez-Neto – Director of Operations for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, explained that “Transnational crime exists and uses legal mechanisms to attack the prosperity of communities and to do so for its activities; therefore, it is critical to work together between CBP and Honduras Customs.”
According to official information, within the framework of the signing of the agreement, Honduras Customs agrees:
• Take measures so that commercial cargo companies responsible for the transport of goods entering, leaving and transiting the country, provide cargo manifest and means of transport information almost in real time to the Honduran customs service, as stipulated in the legislation, to manage the risks in the fight to prevent and commit customs crimes that may impact the security of the international supply chain and tax collection.
• It also provides personnel dedicated to reviewing all information on the cargo manifest and the means of transport.
• Facilitate real-time transfer of cargo manifest and conveyance information to DHS/CBP.
• Provide risk assessments of Honduran Customs cargo manifest and means of transport information to DHS/CBP to assist in identifying risks and threats, detect or control cross-border criminal networks or activities, and others that threaten border security, identify and intercept cross-border crimes, identify cargo, means of transport, and companies that may pose a threat to the security of the countries.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection. agrees:
• Provide technical assistance to Honduran Customs to develop the means to review cargo manifest information and the means of transport established in the memorandum of cooperation.
• Likewise, analyze the information in the cargo manifest and the means of transport received, conferring, at least, the same degree of confidentiality to the information in the cargo manifest and the means of transport.
• Provide, through appropriate channels and in accordance with applicable laws and policies, DHS/CBP cargo manifest and means of transport information to Honduran Customs to assist in identifying previously unknown risks and threats, detect or control cross-border criminal networks or activities, as well as other threats to border security, recognize and intercept cross-border crimes, identify cargo, means of transport, and companies that may pose a threat to the security of the countries.
• Notify Honduran Customs of cargo manifest and mode of transport information provided by Honduran Customs to DHS/CBP that matches any mutually identified lists of high-risk cargo, transports, or companies.
All of the above recognizing the importance and mutual benefit of analyzing and evaluating the information in the cargo manifest and the means of transport to ensure compliance with customs regulations.
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