"The staff is not sufficient to comply – efficiently- with the tasks in customs." This was stated by the General Audit Office (AGN, for its acronym in Spanish) in a report made on the controls carried out at border crossing with Brazil, Puerto Iguazú, and Paso de los Libres, points where shortcomings were also detected in the narcotics area.

The report, which was published in June this year on 2009 data, indicates that the same customs charges "call reinforcements of personnel with the required skills to perform the duties." While the watchdog said that "the entry of new agents is more flexible," both the head of Puerto Iguazú and the Paso de los Libres agreed on the "lack of human resources."

In both customs steps there were comments regarding the lack of tools and infrastructure for detecting smuggled goods entering the country. The detailed irregularities are mentioned below.

Puerto Iguazú

As was reported by one Customs Manager, "the main risk factor" in the area is narcotics, "that are detected in the traffic and the people," commonly called "mules". During this step they work with "two baggage scanners", but both lack the software for narcotics.

In the inspection the Audit Office performed at this border crossing, located in the province of Misiones, found that although Puerto Iguazú has a dog for controls, the AGN says "it is insufficient to cover different operating points and the time differences." The auditors noted that "the dog assigned was not present at the time of the audit" and that his training "is observable from the point of view of animal protection law."

On the other hand, the deposit of retained goods only "have police personnel in the province between the hours of 7 to 15.30", even though the place "is not sealed or closed securely".

The Freight Transport Sector noted that "the facilities are deficient because they do not have a parking lot for trucks or infrastructure for its control, generating delays and long queues at peak periods or days." They also noted that "space for running the trucks is very small, the goods cannot be placed on the floor and roads are very worn out."

In the river port, "there is also little infrastructure for control " because, for example, "there isn’t a place for the review of automotive that are crossing on a barge that connects Ciudad del Este (Paraguay) and Puerto Iguazú, being a high-risk traffic on minor smuggling" mainly electronics.

It was reported by the auditors that as of December 2009, the area only had "one bathroom" that had "poor maintenance." Meanwhile, the auditors indicated that while "there is a building under construction, nearing completed, it was abandoned about 8 years ago due to a dispute."

Pasos de los Libres

The installations in this point are "insufficient" for everything related to imports and freight income. Also "the parking lot is too small for trucks and there isn’t enough infrastructure for control, this generates long lines and delays."

The AGN stated that "there is only one baggage scanner" but "no software for the detection of narcotics", while "the truck has" frequent technical problems" backpacks are an alternative in several points". This situation is compounded by the fact that "there is not enough electrical power at this point" and that "they often have low voltage".

The retention deposit, as indicated by the auditors, has "several irregularities" including the lack of "a system of inventory, fire alarm, and staff" are among those highlighted. Nor do they have "insurance policies on merchandise in custody" - like Puerto Iguazú, who holds electronic products "that don’t get the care they need."

The watchdog said that "there are shortcomings in the application of computer systems" and that "the staff of that area usually performs other tasks" and that "affects the normal development of the sector."

Improvements

This report, which evaluates the financial year 2009, the AGN recorded some improvements over the analysis made in 2005. One of them was in the "international truck traffic theft." This new audit found that it "fell from 85 to 19 cases."

Furthermore, "advances in space and order of files" were recorded, although there still isn’t an organizational structure of a file Headquarters. Also "a significant improvement was verified on site" Customs of Paso de los Libres since the previous audit, "the offices are comfortable and supple for the functioning of the administration."

Integrated Control Area

The AGN observed that "none" of the audited Border crossing had "implemented an Area of Integrated Control (ACI, for its acronym in Spanish)", which is that "each country exercised its own controls without any coordination." The report said there were "differences of opinion or misunderstandings of coordination between the parties for the implementation of an ACI."