The OMA (in Spanish) rewarded the work of the CAE

February 06 2008

The Organización Mundial de Aduanas [Word Customs Organization] (OMA) awarded the customs control and continuous surveillance of the anti narcotics Police, performed at the seaport.

During 2007, the Joint Unit operating at the port with the support of the United States Embassy, captured 8 tons of cocaine and 1, 5 million of prohibited exportation goods that affect the environment. Besides, more than USED 1 million of contraband with other types of products infringing intellectual property has been requisitioned.

These results were enough for the OMA to award the control tasks applied by authorities. The selection was made from 130 countries.

Santiago León, manger of Corporación Aduanera Ecuatoriana [Ecuadorian Customs Corporation] (CAE), affirmed that local customs was the one with the best results fighting drug trafficking. “It was a joint work performed together with national Police. These controls shall improve when we count with x ray equipment, which will easy the port tasks.”

Within three months, the CAE would operate the first x ray equipment that was granted by the Chinese Government. Besides, has the advisory of technicians from the OMA to draft the basis for the bidding of equipments that will be installed in all customs districts.

The modality of equipment acquisition has not been defined yet: whether by rendered services or direct purchase. Each one has an average value of USD 4 million.

According with León, Customs will be in charge of drafting the risks profile of the companies working in foreign trade. Mainly, referring to new companies that file exportation applications, and who has no antecedents. “It is an intelligence work where everything is analyzed. As soon as we identify where the problem may be, we call the Police for inspection”.

Pedro Gallegos, Head of Anti narcotics of Guayas, stated that the Police carried out all cases, in which drugs have been captured. “Just three months ago, Customs gave us access to its databases. There were always restrictions”.

The numbers given by Gallegos do not match with those from the CAE, and he explains that in 2007 4 tons of cocaine were captured, and in 2006 near 8 tons. “It is an ants’ work”.

http://www.elcomercio.com/noticiaEC.asp?id_noticia=168599&id_seccion=6