Hundreds of containers which arrive on the Port of Point Lisas on a daily basis remain unchecked by the Customs and Excise Division because there are no scanners at the facility.This was revealed by senior investigators yesterday who admitted to hitting a stump following the discovery of $34.6 million worth of high grade Arizona marijuana inside a 40-foot container on September 15.The marijuana was stacked among frozen chicken parts and was consigned to a prominent Chaguanas businessman.It was the fourth such bust to have occurred at the port in the space of six months, yet no arrests have been made in connection with any of the incidents.Senior police officers involved in the latest probe said they have quizzed the businessman who has denied knowledge of the drugs.The man, who was represented by an attorney said the container also went to Jamaica but he had no idea who tampered with the contents.The supplier of the container was also quizzed but there was no evidence to suggest that the supplier was linked to the drugs, a source added.Senior officers who were criticised for not allowing the businessman to take possession of the container said that leaks were made to the media almost immediately after the bust."You know how people talk. It was not possible to conduct a sting because news had already been leaked," the source said.He explained that senior officers from the Customs and Excise Department knew of the prevalence of illegal cargo at the Port-of-Spain and Point Lisas ports."This is nothing new. It has been happening for years. Sometimes these officers would turn a blind eye if they know a container with drugs was coming through. Many of them are afraid. The drug trade is a big business and they are not protected," the source said.
The official also noted that it was also customary for containers to be cleared and for Customs officials to go to specific locations to do checks as extra duty."This is common knowledge. Many times businessmen pay the Customs to come to their business places or homes to check containers. Often the officer would leave before all of the contents of the container are cleared. It is just too easy to bring in illegal items into this country," the official added.He noted that more than 1,000 containers were brought into the port on a daily basis. The Customs and Excise officers check containers at random. There are no scanners to check all of the contents."These scanners are used abroad. They can see every item inside the container. We must invest in these scanners and make sure that we check every container that comes to our shores," the source added.Another source also said that flat bottom boats had been coming up the Caroni River laden with illegal cargo.Meanwhile chairman of the Point Lisas Industrial Port Development Corporation Ltd ( PLIPDECO) Ian Atherly was not available for comment and his voice mailbox was full.Detectives from the Organised Crime and Narcotics Unit, who have taken charge of the investigation said they were working on several leads with regards to the drug bust.Officers said that continued monitoring of containers on the port would continue in upcoming weeks.A source added it was not the first time that a contraband container, assigned to a particular businessman, was intercepted by Customs officers.