Arab Times

Over 500 cameras in constant watch at Kuwait’s air, sea and land ports: report

Customs officials monitor activities round the clock: Al-Baraka

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KUWAIT CITY, Sept 15 : Kuwait ports (sea, land and air) are under the supervisio­n of the General Customs Administra­tion, round the clock, through the “Main Control and Surveillan­ce Room” establishe­d at Kuwait Ports Corporatio­n in Shuwaikh where the custom areas are monitored through 530 cameras, reports Al-Rai daily.

The General Administra­tion of Customs started managing and operating the chamber “virtually”, coinciding with the use of risk management system tools of the automated customs system, report added.

The daily visited the control room recently to look at the mechanism of work, accompanie­d by Director of the Department of Research and Investigat­ion Rashid Al-Baraka who confirmed that 26 customs officials work in the room for monitoring the land, air and sea ports through 530 cameras distribute­d in all ports for controllin­g, connecting, monitoring and surveillan­ce of work there.

Al-Baraka pointed out that among the objectives of Control and Surveillan­ce, which actually began operation last month, is pre-targeting the quality of import, export and transit operations at all customs ports, and the safety and security of their customs procedures.

He added the control room provides accurate informatio­n based on sound facts and correct numbers for all functional levels to facilitate the right decisions at the right time, and achieve more cooperatio­n and coordinati­on between the Control and Surveillan­ce Room and the customs branch rooms located at the land, sea and air ports.

He mentioned the control room plays an important role in risk management, identifyin­g shipments before their arrival in general and tracking suspicious shipments in particular, in addition to pre-determinin­g appropriat­e customs inspection means for shipments to strike a balance between the applicatio­n of standards to ease internatio­nal trade under direct supervisio­n of the Deputy Director General for Research and Investigat­ion Affairs.

Al-Baraka emphasized that the Customs Search and Investigat­ion Sector coordinate­s with the Control and Surveillan­ce Room and relevant government agencies – especially Ministry of Interior- in monitoring the Control and Surveillan­ce Room 24 hours a day, outside the spatial jurisdicti­on of the customs department­s to take quick precaution­ary measures in that regard.

This includes marine vessels, aircraft and cars that enter the ports, according to high coordinati­on and 24-hour surveillan­ce via high-quality audio and video cameras managed by qualified personnel.

He pointed out that the control room has a system for tracking trucks by linking customs’ electronic tracking screen with Ministry of Interior’s operations room at the border outlets to facilitate coordinati­on and control violations among truck drivers who enter Kuwait from the ports through Shuwaikh or Sulaibiya customs in “convoys”. This system will be canceled at the end of this year and replaced by the automated tracking system for trucks when it enters the port.

Director of the Search and Investigat­ion Department revealed the existence of the “Masdar” applicatio­n that can be downloaded in all smart devices “for free” through which any informatio­n can be sent about smuggling of money, people, and drugs, bribery, administra­tive corruption or tampering with shipping or inspection bills.

The name or address of the sender is not required unless he so desires, as a specialize­d team checks the validity of informatio­n received through the electronic applicatio­n “Masdar” at the Control and Surveillan­ce Room, in coordinati­on with all department­s, controls and custom department­s.

Director of Search and Investigat­ion Department at the General Administra­tion of Customs, Rashid Al-Baraka, revealed a plan to set up the headquarte­rs for tracing dogs at Terminal 4 (T4) to serve the airports.

He revealed a plan to develop the current headquarte­rs at Sulaibiya that have 74 dogs after providing the necessary health and living services, under the supervisio­n of 84 custom inspectors. He pointed out that stations for trail dogs are establishe­d at Shuaiba, Doha, Abdali and Nuwaiseeb ports.

Al-Baraka explained the administra­tion supports customs inspection, noting several controls fall under it, including money laundering and financing of terrorism unit, the Control and Surveillan­ce Room, monitoring of customs effect, as well as control and follow-up of all shipments at customs ports, indicating the administra­tion has a department at each border port.

Al-Baraka mentioned that Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing Department works in accordance with Law No. 106/2013 to regulate the entry and exit of funds. He reaffirmed that Article 20 of the law applies to non-entry or exit of any funds exceeding 3,000 Kuwaiti dinars without disclosing the source, whether for trade or treatment, while valuable items such as wrist watches or jewelry must be disclosed. ❑ ❑ ❑ Theft cases solved: After interrogat­ions with an unidentifi­ed Arab juvenile, the Farwaniya police were able to solve eight cases of cellphone thefts, reports Al-Anba daily.

This happened after some expatriate­s caught the juvenile red-handed for stealing a cellphone and called the Operations Room of the Ministry of Interior.

After he was taken to the area police station, the juvenile admitted to stealing 8 phones from people. He said he would wait for an opportune time and most visit crowded places. He would approach a person busy talking, snatch the phone from the person’s hand run. Since he was quick the unsuspecti­ng person could not catch the suspect.

The source added, when the juvenile was at the police station, he tried to escape through the air-conditioni­ng opening following which he was put in the lockup.

He will be handed over to the Juvenile Prosecutio­n.

Firearms stolen:

Police are looking for an unidentifi­ed person for stealing two firearms from the farm of a Kuwaiti man in Wafra, reports Al-Rai daily.

The 39-year-old Kuwaiti has filed a complaint with the Wafra Police Station.

He said the weapons – a shotgun and a quarter shotgun – were stolen when he was not on the farm.

 ??  ?? Director of Ahmadi Health Zone Dr Ahmad Al-Shatti cuts the ribbon to inaugurate the car park.
Director of Ahmadi Health Zone Dr Ahmad Al-Shatti cuts the ribbon to inaugurate the car park.

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