ISLAMABAD: Collectorate of Customs Additional Deputy Collector Sana Ullah Abro has said that due to tight vigilance at the New Islamabad International Airport (NIIA) no case of money laundering, gold smuggling or narcotics has reported while customs staff has been covered all gates and scanners with proper checking.
Talking with Customs Today during an exclusive interview Sana Ullah Abro said that after assuming his charge as Additional Collector at AFU (Air Freight Unit) under direction of the Collector (Customs Collectorate) Islamabad the Collectorate have furnished NTC (Customs National Targeting) Center at NIIA (New International Airport Islamabad).
He said that in order to achieve customs enforcement goals of apprehending illegitimate movement of goods and passengers crossing borders in structured manner Customs is regularly improving its system and procedures.
The recent addition is establishment of the Customs National Targeting Center (CNTC) after successful foundation of the National Single Window (NSW) project by Customs the NTC would be another national mile stone setup with strategic objectives such as protection of economic interest of country, security of legitimate trade and protection of society from transnational crimes.
The project components consist of the security of containerized cargo through establishment of Cargo Targeting Center (CTC), passenger profiling through analysis of Advance Passenger Information (API) and Passenger Name Record (PNR) information through Global Travel Assessment System (GTAS), collating Customs seizures information through National Customs Enforcement Network (N-CEN), integrating Port Control Units (PCUs) and Airport Control Units (ACUs), scaling up the Currency Declaration System (CDS) and integration with the Integrating Border Management System (IBMS).
The NTC has adopted principles of SMART borders and invisible approach at country’s all air ports and border crossings, headed that Center is being developed by the methodology of integration of various data bases placed in isolation, adopting Risk based approach at border enforcement by development of passenger and vessel profiling, bringing Invisible approach at airports through back end scanning and deployment of RFID devices, connecting Non Intrusive Inspection (NII) technologies, and extending RMS from clearance to pre clearance and post clearance in case of cargo and passenger movement.
The World Customs Organization (WCO) is extending technical assistance in development of the passenger profiling and targeting system for Pakistan Customs known as Global Travel Assessment System (GTAS).
He said that the GTAS is a long standing missing link in control of border and organized crimes in Pakistan which will bring Pakistan Customs in row of developed nations in airport and border management techniques.
Recent he stated that anti money laundering drive due to instability in financial market and cross border cash smuggling has pressed hard for urgent deployment of the system for identification of risky passengers involving in money laundering.
The system operating through automated targetable and technology driven risk management system based on the international best practices, he added that in this regards the MCC is planning to signed a MOU (memorandum of understanding) with FIA for sharing information of passengers traveling via NIIA the Additional Deputy Collector concluded.
