Customs demonstrates container scanner, K-9 units

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With the recent repair of the container X-ray scanner unit after a year of it being inoperable, Customs officers demonstrated for island officials how it works.

The Customs and Quarantine Agency (CQA) has given a sneak peek into how they conduct container inspections at our island’s port.

With the recent repair of the container X-ray scanner unit after a year of it being inoperable, Customs officers demonstrated for island officials how the machine works.

The Customs officers said that they are able to screen at least 20 containers a day. If the x-ray scanner picks up something not disclosed on the manifest, that item can be confiscated and the intended recipient fined.

In addition to the scanner, Customs’ K-9 unit was also onsite to showcase their drug detector dogs in action. The unit has added two K-9s to their team. K-9 Kappie and his handler were more than enthusiastic to show us what they are capable of.

According to their handlers, Kappie and his K-9 colleagues cut down the time it takes for an officer to manually search vehicles which have been deemed as high risk cargo for the importation of drugs.

On average, it takes about two minutes for Kappie to sniff out a vehicle for drugs as opposed to his two legged co-workers who would take about 30 minutes. Kappie has been on the team for five years and contributed to nearly $15 million of drugs being seized and not making it to our island’s streets.

CQA Director Ike Peredo said the scanners, the K-9 units, and other resources all help in intercepting illegal drugs that are coming in.

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Jolene joined the PNC team in 2017, as a producer, co-anchor and investigative reporter covering law enforcement, courts and crimes. Notable coverage includes the Ehlert case, the Mark Torre Jr. trial, the Allan Agababa trial, exclusive pieces on the Life of a Drug Dealer/Addict, and Life behind bars...the story of Honofre Chargualaf and Kevin Cruz. In 2019, she was promoted to Assistant News Director and Lead Anchor. From 2015 to 2017 she served as Public Relations and Promotions Manager, for the Hotel Nikko Guam handling local radio and advertorial promotions, as well as produced and directed tv commercials for the hotel. Prior to this she worked with KUAM for three years as a reporter and segment host. She began her journalism career in 2012, working with Glimpses of Guam contributing to the Guam Business Magazine, R&R magazine, MDM magazine and the Marianas Business Journal.