Burundi launches ultra-compact vehicle screening system

On June 11th, the Office Burundais des Recettes (Burundi Revenue Authority) received the ultra-compact mobile HCVM e35 scanner, latest addition to the range of scanners manufactured by Smiths Detection. Thanks to the financial support of the Ministry of Finance and the technical assistance of Cotecna, OBR takes a technological lead within African Customs in terms of Non-Intrusive Inspection.

This mobile scanner, the world’s most compact for a 4 MeV penetration power, enables Customs to cover, in quick succession, several border posts.

The launch of the first example of this type of scanner in Africa is good news for regional trade facilitation and the local stakeholders, whose shipment can now be inspected within minutes (even through 20 cm of steel) without having to offload the containers.

A world leader in this field, the Swiss company Cotecna is in charge of both the training of all Customs Officers involved and the technical maintenance and support.

Dr Domitien NDIHOKUBWAYO, Deputy Commissioner General of the Burundi Revenue Authority, said: « By operating two latest-generation mobile scanners, OBR benefits from modern inspection tools to efficiently achieve its mission, while safekeeping the integrity of goods and speeding up the trade flows. This a new step by the Burundi Customs towards its modernization ».