TEXAS: The plan to have Mexican customs officers working to clear cargo at the Laredo International Airport is closer to completion.
The city says it’s an option that would make the shipping process quicker and less expensive for people in the shipping business.
During that time, Mexican customs workers have been working at the facility, but they’ve only cleared a handful of shipments.
Once a deal is made between the U.S. and Mexico, they’ll be working with more volume, and the city expects that will attract business.
In Laredo’s Unitec Industrial Park, you’ll find Gontor Logistics.”It’s an international company”, said Francisco Gonzalez
It’s warehouses ship auto parts, and chemicals.
Francisco Gonzalez is the company’s corporate logistics manager, in Laredo.
Gontor was the first company to participate in a test run of a facility built for Mexican customs officers to work in the U.S.
“Laredo is the only airport outside of mexico to be able to have Mexican customs officials pre-clear cargo”, said Jose Flores.
Laredo airport director Jose Flores says the new system that allows Mexican officers to look at cargo in Laredo will help reduce time and money involved in the shipping process.
“It’s helped business in the sense of actually providing benefit for our clients”, said Gonzalez.
Golzalez is trying to build more business with the automotive industry.
“They are ‘just in time’ everything has to go perfect and we have to respond adequately”, said Gonzalez.
He says that faster service will help attract clients.
“We’re seeking new business. Business that is currently overflying Laredo at 30,000 feet in the air”, said Gonzalez.
Planners are waiting for one final step in all this, that’s for the Mexican congress to permit U.S. customs officers to carry their sidearms, in Mexico.
Flores says, when the deal is finished, Mexican customs officers working here will also be able to carry weapons.
