The National Customs Service of Chile formulated a request for modernize control systems and gauging sites from the port of Iquique (north) to the management of the company Iquique Terminal Internacional (ITI).
The request is made "in the context of the detections of arms smuggling and other illegal activities recorded from 2018 to date," says the Customs statement.
In this regard, the Regional Director of the Iquique Customs, Cristian Molina Silva, noted that adequate technology and spaces are required to carry out modern and safe inspection work in favor of the logistics community and the city.
At the same time, Molina recalled that they are three associated incidents the confiscation of weapons and ammunition, in addition to the fire in the warehouses of surplus weapons in 2018. “In October 2019, we detected two containers with ammunition, ballistic projectiles, gunpowder, magazines and even a machine to manufacture and calibrate projectiles. On July 29 of this year, we found, inside cars, parts and pieces to assemble 30 AM-15 model assault rifles,” he added.
The manager explained that It is urgent to enable non-invasive technology through portals, which allows for the control and registration -both of entry and exit- of trucks and cargo. He cited as an example that in ports such as Arica and Valparaíso there are X-ray portals, while in Antofagasta and Mejillones there are systems for reading license plates and containers.
The Customs requirement was made known during a meeting with executives of Iquique Terminal Internacional. Also, through an official document supported by Decree No. 1114 of the Ministry of Finance that establishes the regulations for the authorization and concession of customs warehouses and merchandise storage.
At the meeting, ITI executives agreed to present a project for the inspection site, which includes lighting, perimeter fencing and remote surveillance. In addition, spaces for container inspection and an esplanade for the operation of the Customs scanner truck.
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