In recent months the debate on drug trafficking became very strong in Argentina. If we are a narcotic pool, if Rosario became the new Medellin, whether to approve or not a law to forcefully bring down planes. The General Audit Office (AGN, for its acronym in Spanish) evaluated the management of the Federal Public Revenue Administration (AFIP) in customs matters showing some weaknesses in the control of a possible entry or exit of drugs.

Customs offices are created in order to streamline operations import or export of products to contribute to the economic growth of the region and have the responsibility to monitor incoming and outgoing products. The report, approved in March of this year, evaluated the headquarters of General Deheza, Córdoba and Santiago del Estero.

In relation to the means by which the control is performed, the AGN noted that no dependence "has scanners permanently assigned to the tasks of control." At the headquarters of Santiago is the lack of concern because it operates with charcoal material considered at risk for drug operations since drugs are hidden inside the material.

Indeed, such is the risk posed by the coal that Customs issued a set of special rules for the control of operations with this merchandise. To control "a hydrometer is used, an anti-drug canine, packages are opened, transport are evaluated and, depending on destination, collaboration with the Regional Córdoba is requested to use a scan will -truck with an X-rays system." However, in the Santiago headquarters, "there is no exclusively appointed to the charge of mineral zone."

The report noted that "there was a special joint control with Cordoba but they could not use the x-ray vehicle" because it was broken." Furthermore it was found that "when loading and unloading the container boxes customs personnel were there sporadically."

In more typical cases it found that "dogs performed narcotics controls on the bags that get off the truck but when the exporter goes in the truck there is no staff to monitor this action." However, when loading is completed, "the customs agent places the seal" without knowing what happened in the uncontrolled period.

Involuntary Retirement

About the dogs is an interesting point to note is that, despite its key role in the detection of drugs, in both terminals there are not enough animals. In the Santiago delegation there is only one dog and the Administrator noted that "it is not enough because you must use it for all operations with charcoal and some other sensitive goods as those that come in packages."

This situation adds that before long the dog "will be removed from service," among other reasons, "because it presents health problems."

In Cordoba there are two dogs but "not achieved" to cover the four operating points where General Deheza dependence is divided. In addition, as reported by the audit team "one of them will be removed from the team."

However, their work with canine unit "is not recorded in the computer system since there is no specific field to seat controls by."