Over 500,000 containers were scanned by the Bureau of Customs in 2020, or 41 per cent percent higher than the scanned containers in 2019.
A total of 513,600 containers were scanned under the bureau’s X-ray Inspection Project (XIP) last year, compared to the previous year total of 363,629 scanned containers.
According to the bureau, the utilization of 124 x-ray machines helped them achieve the higher inspection rate of containers. This also resulted in the collection of P100,604,245 in additional duties and taxes and issuance of 208 warrants of seizure and detention for 2020.
This also resulted in the apprehension of 14 shipments of illegal drugs with a collective estimated street value of P1.6 billion, 24 importations of cigarettes worth P833 million; and two importations of automobiles consisted of a McLaren and three undeclared automobiles tallying a combined value of P45 million, among others.
“The rapid and effective screening of containerized shipments with minimum interruption to the movement of goods inside the ports while ensuring maximum threat detection is an indication of the intensified non-intrusive capabilities of the Bureau of Customs through modernized scanning equipment,” the bureau said.
It added that the advanced scanning technologies have been “substantial in ensuring the ports’ resiliency and adaptability in light of the restrictions implemented under the unanticipated health crisis in 2020.”
According to XIP, a total of 16,168 containers were scanned for the first week of January, generating P1,973,369 in additional duties and taxes.