The Antigua and Barbuda government has approved funding for new X-ray machines capable of scanning entire shipping containers and pallets as part of efforts to intercept illegal firearms and other prohibited items entering the country.
Director General of Communications Maurice Merchant said the acting comptroller of customs has been instructed to move immediately to procure the equipment.
The machines are expected to strengthen inspections at the country’s legal ports of entry, where many imported containers and other shipments are still searched manually.
Merchant said security officials suspect some firearms are being smuggled into Antigua and Barbuda in separate pieces rather than as complete weapons, making them more difficult to detect.
“The entire guns are not coming on any shipment,” Merchant said. “Parts of these weapons are being shipped to Antigua in parts.”
He said some firearm components could resemble ordinary objects, including pens, before being combined with other pieces to form a complete weapon.
Merchant said customs officers would also require training to recognise individual firearm components and other items that may be concealed or disguised in shipments.
The government is also considering additional equipment for the Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force to strengthen maritime surveillance along the country’s porous borders.
Merchant said authorities recognise that criminal networks continue to adjust their methods, requiring security agencies to upgrade their equipment and regularly change their strategies.
He said the new port scanners should reduce the number of illegal shipments slipping through the inspection process.
“With the new X-ray machines at the port, it is believed that some of these illegal shipments will be captured,” Merchant said.
No delivery or installation date was announced, but Merchant said funding has already been granted and procurement instructions were issued last week.
This article was originally published by Antigua News Room. Read the original article here: New Port X-Ray Machines to Scan Containers for Guns and Illegal Items.