The biggest of the four customs scanners has landed and should be installed and operating by December 14 the effective date of the law authorizing their use and setting fees that importers have to pay,
ASG has purchased four scanners costing $6 million , raised from the American Samoa economic Development Authority bond sale.
The scanners are to beef border security by keeping out contraband like guns and drugs and boost excise taxes by identifying all taxable items that enter through the port and airport.
Chief of Customs Moetului Fuiava Sipili says the three smaller scanners are ready to be installed but the big one which arrived over the weekend needs to be calibrated.
The scanners are being brought on line in as shipments of Christmas goods are landing at the wharf ready to hit store shelves.
Moetului says they will issue a public announcement concerning the enforcement of the scanner fees .
The customs chief says six employees, have been trained to operate the scanners at the airport, Post Office, dock and a mobile unit that will move around.
He says six existing customs officers will be trained to augment the staff for the Scanners Division.
Business owners have said that they will just pass on the scanner fees they will be paying to their customers.
The scanner fee schedule is $200 for a container that’s 20 ft, and over, $50 for loose cargo pallets; $50 per vehicle or heavy equipment and $10 per parcel .
