The new mobile scanner used by Belgian customs known as the ‘backcatter’, installed two weeks ago at Antwerp, helped to find 43 packets containing 47kg of cocaine in total. It’s the equivalent of 2,4 million euros, the SPF Finances said proudly in a press release on Monday. Set up inside a lorry, this equipment is capable of scanning dozens of containers in the shipping terminals of ports quickly, to find mainly cigarettes and illegal drugs. This new scanner, costing 1,08 million euros, is relatively small, and can scan to a depth of 2 meters.
According to the Finance minister, Johan von Overtveldt, the efficiency of the equipment has now been proved. “The new government agreement strongly supports an efficient and effective customs. With this new equipment in place, our reach in the fight against drug crime is getting longer.”
Jonadav Apelblat
Business and Technology Editor
The Brussels Times
