The limited spaces for customs inspections and the lack of control equipment, such as portable scanners and X -ray machines, are the main deficiencies in customs and inter -institutional control posts (PCI), according to the Ministry of the Interior (Mingob), which carried out an evaluation together with several government units and with the support of the USA.
The government’s response was provided at the request of the Free Press, after the United States Department of State published a report collecting the stages of the region in the fight against drug trafficking and indicated that the ports of Guatemala were exposed to the transfer of synthetic drugs for 2024.
In response, the Mingob said that, with the support of the United States Embassy – through the Customs and Border Control Office and the Anti -Narcotics Affairs section and strengthening the law -, a CGAP+diagnosis was implemented in Guatemala criminal phenomena.
CGAP+ is a methodology aimed at the study of border security for the identification of gaps in the capacities, which allows the evaluation of the processes and provides recommendations for the solution of the deficiencies detected.
Findings
Through this method, it was determined that there is little presence of authorities in the blind or not controlled steps in the vicinity of customs.
The report indicates that in customs there are limited human and logistics resources, deficiencies in the writing of reports and weakness in the knowledge of the legal framework of action. In addition, on some borders of San Cristóbal, Tecún Umán and in the integrated position the Florido does not have a canine unit.
As for the ports, the report recommends that the suggestions made by the coasters be attended and the use of scanners or X -ray machines is optimized. It also suggests applying economic sanctions to shipping companies and ships that fail to comply with safety standards.
The recommendations emphasize the need to carry out reliability processes to all workers, withdraw access to retentions to operational equipment and transfer that function to an analysis area outside the port facilities.
In terms of land security, it is recommended to improve coordination with the Guatemalan Institute of Migration, the Superintendence of Tax Administration and the National Civil Police.
Likewise, it is proposed to strengthen safety in the uncontrolled steps, known as “blind steps”, and implement biometric systems on terrestrial borders.
For airports, the report suggests strengthening human resource, improving synthetic drug detection controls in the loading area, determining the appropriate number of canine units, regulating chemical substance management, reinforcing training processes and providing computer equipment for the visualization of images and x -rays at the La Aurora International Airport.
How it affects
On whether the aforementioned findings affect the logistics in the transport of merchandise, Mariano Díaz, consultant in International Trade, points out that the delay in the delivery of products, both of export and import, is not related to security measures.
“The delay in the transfer of the load is due to whether or not we have cranes in the ports, whether there is space or not on the dock.
According to the consultant, in the ports there are X -ray equipment and there is already the law of the designated authority of the National Port System, which guarantees compliance with international standards and establishes sanctions for those who fail to comply with the security provisions.
“What is needed is an extension.
Díaz affirms that the real problem that affects logistics is on the road network, due to several unfinished works on the main routes, such as the reconstruction of the section at kilometer 44 of the Palín-Western highway.
Affected
Héctor Fajardo, director of the Central American Chamber of Transporters, points out that the problem in the delivery of goods begins in the ports due to the lack of space in the docks.
“Deliveries are scheduled based on the date the ships arrive, but if there is no room to download or load, road transport is affected,” he said.
Fajardo states that in customs there are spaces for the supervision of the merchandise, although the processes are lengthened when permits are required according to the type of product transferred.
“During the night, staff is reduced in customs.
The Government indicated that, for 2024, the United States Coast Guard service made an informal or courtesy visit to the country.
The visit was carried out from August 19 to 23 and only included four terminals located within Puerto Quetzal, but not the facilities in charge of the Quetzal Port Company. The dynamic was not evaluated or determination of findings, but only a technical visit.
The last official visit was made in 2023, after which a report with recommendations was given to the country.