Chinese investors install scanners in ports

PANAMA. A Chinese company has started installing new scanners for the inspection of merchandise containers in Panamanian ports and in the border with Costa Rica, a measure that looks to control contraband and drug traffic.

Beijing’s NUCTECH company won the bidding process held by the Ministry of Economy and Finance to install the devices in both Pacific and Atlantic ports, as well as border ports with Costa Rica: Paso Canoas (Pacifico) and Guabito (Caribe).

Scanners will also be installed in the cargo area of Tocumen Internationa Airport, and two will be installed in the Colon Free Zone.

The scanners help customs officers determine through computer images the content of containers and vehicles.

According to declarations made by Han Shuo, NUCTECH project manager to The Associated Press, the device works like an X-ray machine. And experience in other countries shows that the scanner helps detect more illicit merchandise, and increases revenues for the State.

The company has already installed 350 of these devices in 85 countries, including Ecuador, Venezuela, Brazil, Argentina and the US.