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CEF to boost cargo clearance processes

The container examination facility will enable a more faster and more accurate clearance of cargo.

Customs Chief Commissioner Ray Paul explained this following the launching of the CEF at Motukea in January. "To enable PNG Customs to effectively address the increasing risk of the importation of prohibited and illicit goods and illegal imports within an environment of increasing volumes of cargo, an intelligence led, risk based approach to interventions has been adopted".

"PNGCS will continue to refine its risk assessment processes to effectively identify high risk importers, allowing legitimate importers to continue unimpeded."

He said the principal role of the CEF is to conduct examinations of targeted sea cargo to detect prohibited and illicit goods.

"These examinations will be conducted using x-ray, trace detection equipment and physical examinations", he explained further.

He said the number of containers to be inspected on a daily basis, balanced the need to protect PNG's borders, whilst still facilitating legitimate trade.

The Chief Commissioner added that as such, the container x-ray business process is based on risk managed profiling and targeting.

He said the CEF is of great benefit to Customs because It is a mass screening tool that will allow faster clearance rates (the container x-ray process alone is 15-20 minutes) and it is a rapid, safe and non-intrusive inspection method which will increase detection rates of prohibited and non-compliant goods.

The availability of this x-ray technology enables Customs to target and inspect many more consignments than we have in the past.

It delivers an increased search capability to increase the detections of illicit goods at the nation's border. This capability includes: illicit drugs, mis-described or undeclared tobacco, prohibited imports, eg firearms, misreporting of goods and possible fraud.

PNGCS currently does about manual examinations per week, however when the x-ray facility is fully operational we will inspect 40 containers a week, with eight containers having further intervention from Customs he added.

The Chief Commissioner further added that apart from the CEF at Motukea, PNG Customs is also in the process of building a similar facility in Lae, Morobe Province.

The CEF projects were planned for these two locations because of the volume of cargo being processed there.

Container x-ray facility finally launched

The Container Examination Facility (CEF) at Motukea was finally commissioned on Jan 26, 2017 by Government Ministers Patrick Pruaitch (Treasury) and James Marape (Finance).

The launching was witnessed by Customs Chief Commissioner Ray Paul and his executives, Customs officers, colleagues from the Australian Border Force, invited guests and the media.

Minister Pruaitch said during his speech that the National Government was committed to improving revenue collection efforts that is why they had continued to provide funding for the CEF project each year since 2012.

"We need to modernise our facilities to maximise the collection of revenue and the container examination facility is a fine example of that", he said.

He said as minister responsible for Customs he had been vocal about the need to improve border security especially in key locations like Vanimo, Buka and Daru.

"We have seen a huge increase in trade trade between Vanimo and Jayapura and we have to improve our side," he added.

He added that Customs and the Internal Revenue Commission were the main contributors to the economy that is why the Government was always willing to improve both organisation's allocations.

Minister Pruaitch and Minister Marape officiated at the launching on behalf of Prime Minister Peter O'neill who was attending a parliament sitting that day.

"The Prime Minister offers his commendations to all Customs officers, you have been contributing well to your country in the course of your employment," Minister Marape said.

"And you must continue to be honest and diligent in your job as a Customs officer because the work you do contributes towards the development of our country.

"You have asked for certain support during our tenure and we have delivered", Minister Marape added.

"The people of PNG expect you to go that extra mile not only in the areas of border security but also in revenue collection so that our country continues to develop into the future.

Highest number of officers graduate at DWU

A total of 27 officers graduated with various qualifications at the Divine Word University (DWU), Madang, in March this year making it the highest number to date since PNG Customs entered into a partnership with DWU and began sending officers to DWU in 2013.

Eleven officers graduated with a Diploma in Customs, 10 officers graduated with a Diploma in Management, five officers graduated with a Bachelor in Management and one officer graduated with a Masters in Business Administration.

Apart from that, two Customs officers have now resumed duties after completing their studies and graduating with Masters in Australia and Japan respectively.

The two officers are Mark Rami, Director Compliance and Cargo Management and Brenda Itagau, Customs officer Wewak.

Mr. Rami graduated with a Masters in International Business in December 2016 from La Trobe University in Melbourne, Australia. It took two years for him to complete the program. He studied under the AusAID's Australian Awards Program. .

Brenda Itagau graduated in March 2017 with a Masters in the field of Field of Strategic Management and Intellectual Property Rights.

She studied at Aoyama Gaukin University in Tokyo, Japan. Her one-year scholarship program was sponsored by the World Customs Organisation.

Authorised by:
Ray Paul, OBE
Chief Commissioner of Customs