Argentina has modernized customs equipment on its borders with Bolivia, Chile, Uruguay and Paraguay, official sources reported on Thursday (19.10.2023).
The statement from the General Directorate of Customs (DGA) indicated that, in the last weeks, new non-intrusive control equipment was incorporated: customs scanners.
"After nine years, the agency has reincorporated the technical material used by agents to carry out inspection and monitoring tasks of foreign trade at border crossings, international bridges, ports and airports," he said.
Bordering country: Bolivia
According to the DGA, two new dual-view scanners were installed on the border with Bolivia that will allow for faster and more effective control of the luggage of all passengers entering and leaving the country. One was placed at the La Quiaca – Villazón International Bridge and the other in the Salvador Mazza – Pocitos pass.
Bordering country: Chile
Another dual-view scanner was set up in the Cardinal Samoré Border Complex which is under the jurisdiction of the Bariloche Customs (province of Neuquén). This improvement allows for more exhaustive and more agile control of merchandise entering or leaving the country to or from Chile, thus simplifying trade between both countries. Another team will also be sent to the Bariloche Customs San Martin de los Andes (Neuquén province).
The border with Chile extends along the entire Andes mountain range and each of the authorized crossings has a strong presence of the agency. For this reason, a dual-vision scanner was also incorporated in Huemules Pass which depends on the Customs of Comodoro Rivadavia (Chubut province)
El Mendoza Airport received another state-of-the-art scanner that will allow customs agents to perform double-glance checks on the luggage of passengers passing through the terminal.
Bordering country: Uruguay
According to the statement, "controls at all border crossings are vital for Customs," which is why in the Gualeguaychú – Fray Bentos International Bridge Another dual-view scanner was added. "Given the traffic that exists at this crossing to and from Uruguay, it was essential to incorporate new instruments that allow for more in-depth controls and at the same time speed them up," he said.
Bordering country: Paraguay
At the same time, - added the Customs - a new scanner, trailer type, for containers and large vehicles, will be installed on the border with Paraguay, which will allow it to further strengthen the control against drug trafficking and smuggling. It will be in the San Roque Gonzalez International Bridge in Santa Cruz which connects the city of Posadas with that of Encarnación.
The technique can certainly be used to scan and see if cargo has been contaminated. In this sense, scanners are a "fundamental" non-intrusive control tool for international transit control.
"They allow the condition of luggage to be checked more quickly than physical inspections, and the X-ray equipment can distinguish between organic and inorganic material and detect loads that emit radiation," Customs said.
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