The Acting Prime Minister and Minister of Finance officially launched the new Customs and Excise Container scanner at the PLIPDECO, Port of Point Lisas on April 18.
These scanners will increase the country’s border security capacity and focuses on combatting the importation of all contraband, specifically narcotics, illegal firearms and ammunition.
Charge d'Affaires at the US Embassy, John McIntyre said at the ribbon cutting ceremony that "in 2014, U.S. Customs and Border Protection or “CBP” donated four Mobile Vehicle and Cargo Inspection System Scanners, known as VACIS scanners, to help the Trinidad and Tobago Customs and Excise Division’s modernization initiative.
The implementation of these scanners has been highly anticipated by both countries. Our two nations share many interests and we also share many common goals. Ensuring the safety and security of our citizens is one of the most important of those shared goals and a key area of our partnership."