Trinidad and Tobago boosts security with hand-held detector procurement

Trinidad and Tobago’s (T&T) Ministry of Finance Customs and Excise Division has reportedly procured a new Smiths Detection multi-mode threat detector (MMTD) system to beef up its potential to thwart illegal imports of narcotics and explosives, further bolstering border security.

The latest procurement, which is one of government’s approaches to increasing border security, would enable T&T to intensify border control practices.

T&T Finance Minister Larry Howai was quoted by Trinidad Guardian as saying: "Gone are the days when customs officers could simply eyeball arriving passengers to determine potential risks.

"Not only have passengers intent on nefarious deeds become highly adept at sneaking contraband into and out of our country, the sheer numbers of people entering and leaving T&T have made such simple profiling impractical."

Featuring up to four operating modes, including a dual setting for simultaneous detection of explosives and narcotics from one sample, the new MMTD system enables operators to rapidly swap between particle or vapour analysis methods to optimise threat detection.

About 50 new officers have been trained on the new systems in Miami and the programme also involves rolling out of fibre-optic scopes and density metres.

In addition to the new $500,000 hand-held device, T&T plans to add more sniffer dogs atthe airports and for trainers.

T&T has also implemented improved security measures at the sea ports including addition of more container scanners, with two more machines anticipated to be rolled out next month.