Problems at PoS port

THE 12 duffel bags filled with marijuana found on Friday may have made its way through the ports thanks to inefficient security measures.

According to port sources, the scanners at the Port of Port of Spain have not been operating at its optimum for some time. The current scanners have not been serviced by the supplier, as per the contract, because they have not been paid due to the country’s financial constraints.

In 2014, then prime minister, Kamla Persad Bissessar commissioned the $25 million Nuctech Linear Accelerator X-ray scanner and detection system at the port of Port of Spain port. That scanner, provided by The People’s Republic of China, was equipped with non-invasive technology to scan 15 40-foot containers per hour compared to two prior to its installation. The upgraded scanning capabilities meant that some 595 40-foot containers could have been scanned daily.

On Friday morning, police were called to Caribbean Bottlers TT Ltd in Macoya after close to 400 kilograms of high-grade marijuana with an estimated street value of $6 million. The drugs were discovered in 12 black duffel bags and a crocus bag in a container, surrounded by imported beers. Experts at the OCIU believe there may be some cocaine carefully hidden among the marijuana, but this was yet to be verified late yesterday.

The container, which came from Mexico, was also packed with Cereza beers and was cleared through the Port of Port of Spain. Port workers at the Port of Point Lisas said the container could not have been cleared at their port and checks done by them substantiated that. The container made a brief stop in Jamaica, where it is believed the marijuana in the duffel bags and crocus bag were sneaked into the container. It was cleared at a TT port by Customs and Excise officers and arrived at the Coca-Cola factory late on Thursday. Employees were assigned to remove the beers from the container to be taken inside when around 10.30 am, the drugs were discovered.

In April, the US Customs and Border Protection donated four mobile vehicle and cargo inspection system (VACIS) scanners, which were all placed at the Port of Point Lisas. Senior port officials confirmed that the new scanners were not installed in Port of Spain but there had been consideration given for that to be done.

The four mobile scanner units, two of which were unveiled at the Port of Point Lisas on April 18, were installed to stop human trafficking and prevent drugs and other contraband from entering or leaving TT’s ports. The other two mobile scanners are expected to be placed at the Port of Port of Spain but the installation have been delayed by the Public Services Association who queried the possible health complications of the scanners. The VACIS system, which is manufactured by the Leidos Corporation, uses low-dose, dual-energy X-rays to scan trucks, cargo containers, cars and other vehicles. The system scans while stationary or in motion and can even scan occupied vehicles. Detailed, colour-coded images help inspectors locate weapons, explosives, drugs, undeclared cargo and other contraband. The system, which is mounted on a rugged truck chassis, scans the entire target vehicle bumper-to-bumper, all the way down to the axles and can also be configured to scan just the cargo, not the driver cab.

Following Friday’s discovery, Caribbean Bottlers TT Ltd, issued a media release saying that they regretted any individual or group would choose their business for illegal purposes. They condemned the actions and vowed to work with police to complete the investigations.

In 2011, 921 kilos of high-grade marijuana was found in a 40-foot container at the Port of Point Lisas packed in between frozen chicken parts. No one has been charged for that offence. The chicken was cleared by the person who the container was assigned to but not the drugs, which had a street value of at least $9 million.