Ecuadorian ports and airports must implement more equipment to fight smuggling, money laundering and narcotics

Technical mission from the United States Customs & Border Protection (CBP) arrived in Ecuador to prepare and deliver a report.

Until the end of April, Ecuador intends to have ready the regulations that will regulate the obligation of ports and airports to implement a new technology of non-intrusive control equipment to combat smuggling, money laundering and narcotics.

The Ministry of Government and the National Customs Service of Ecuador must issue this resolution jointly.

As part of this process, a technical mission fromCustoms & Border Protection (CBP)of the United States arrived in Ecuador to prepare and deliver a report on the technical security parameters that will support the first joint regulation.

Garret Reinhart, director of the Non-Intrusive division, and Daniel Stajcar, director of the Container Security Initiative, are part of that delegation that was received by Vice President María Alejandra Muñoz and the United States Ambassador, Michael Fitzpatrick.

The regulations will provide that each port and airport contract directly and at its own expense the acquisition of non-intrusive cargo inspection equipment for both import, export, and passengers. These must comply with technological and technical parameters based on best international practices.

One of the problems that Ecuador still struggles with is the contamination of export container loads, which are usually used by drug trafficking to transport drugs to other markets. In addition, the smuggling of textiles, footwear and cigarettes is another problem that has not been controlled.

The Vice Presidency indicated that once the State applies the new regulations, it will not have the need to continue assuming costs of acquisition or maintenance of said equipment, since it will subject the operating authorizations of ports and airports to compliance with said safety standards.

Muñoz said that traceability and processes are the way to reduce discretion and promote transparency.

The idea is that with the incorporation of new technological tools for control, it will be possible to boost foreign trade and increase efficiency in contamination controls of export containers, as well as in import risk controls associated with smuggling.

The Ecuadorian Government indicated that the actions are part of the Productive Axis-Circle of Facilitation and Productivity, one of the functions delegated to the Vice Presidency of the Republic.