The Netherlands government has provided two cutting-edge advanced airport passenger scanners to Ghana’s Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) to help the country combat drug trafficking.
The new technology, which includes a full-body security scanner and a baggage scanner, are described as intrusive scanners and give deeper and more advanced screening capabilities than the present systems in use.
Mr Fort Van Osteen, Minister of Justice and Security of the Netherlands, stated that this grant underlined the Netherlands’ strong commitment to assisting Ghana in its efforts to boost border security and combat transnational drug trafficking.
He stated that Ghana and the Netherlands have a longstanding partnership based on cooperation, shared responsibility, and mutual respect.
“We fully recognise the challenges that agencies like NACOC face as criminal networks become more sophisticated.”
“It is for this reason that we believe investments in modern technology, such as these scanners, are essential to reinforcing the integrity of airport operations and safeguarding the travelling public,” he added.
As they pursued their common objective of making society safer and more resilient, he said the Netherlands was dedicated to strengthening cooperation with Ghana in the areas of security, justice, and capacity building, looking forward to further engagement.
The scanners currently in operation at the airport, according to Mr. Muntaka Mubarak Mohammed, Minister of the Interior, were made to identify objects brought by passengers and sound an alert if they were found to be illegal.
He went on to say that compared to the current systems, the freshly delivered scanners offered a deeper, more thorough level of screening and far more sophisticated capabilities, which were categorized as intrusive scanners.
“Previously, the airport operated an intrusive scanner managed by NACOC, but that equipment had become outdated. It therefore became necessary to acquire modern scanners with enhanced functionality to strengthen our fight against drug trafficking through the country’s ports,” he emphasized.
Mr. Mubarak thanked the Dutch government for this crucial assistance while acknowledging the major obstacles in this field.
He promised that the equipment would be used efficiently and kept in good working order.
“We are also committed to training the right caliber of personnel to operate the system efficiently. With this assistance, we are confident that we can significantly reduce the use of our ports as channels for the illegal transportation of drugs,” he stated.
On behalf of the Commission, NACOC Director-General Brigadier General Maxwell Obuba Mantey expressed gratitude to the Dutch government for the thoughtful act.
He reaffirmed the Commission’s dedication to combating illicit trafficking.
Source: newsthemegh.com