US donates border control equipment to SARS K9 in Kempton Park
The equipment will be used to support SARS’ efforts to safeguard the borders in South Africa.
THE U.S. Embassy in South Africa’s office of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) donated border enforcement equipment and tools to the South African Revenue Service (SARS) at their K-9 facility in Atlas Road, Kempton Park on June 14.
The equipment, worth at least $105 000 (more than R13 580 000), will be used to support SARS’ efforts to safeguard the borders in South Africa. The equipment includes vehicle GPS units, field binoculars, night vision goggles, handheld thermal imagers, radiation detector and contraband detection kits.
The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation (ISN) Export Control and Related Border Security Program (EXBS) funded the donation, which was executed by CBP as a part of its longstanding partnership with the government of South Africa to support border security and trade facilitation.
U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Jessye Lapenn said, “We are delighted to strengthen South Africa’s strategic trade controls and border security, which promotes non-proliferation and economic development by assuring investors that the local environment meets international standards to prevent illicit transfers. I am proud of the great work our South African and U.S. teams have done together combating the flow of illicit materials across borders. Together, we are making a difference.”
Mohamed Ally, Executive for Customs at SARS said, “from the South African perspective, we acknowledge and receive these ‘tools of the trade’ from the United States with gratitude. This donation will strengthen our long-lasting relationship with the United States, which has been assisting us since the 1990s. Our work together has helped us improve our fight against the illicit economy.”
The men and women of CBP are responsible for enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws and regulations. On a typical day, CBP welcomes nearly one million visitors, screens more than 67,000 cargo containers, arrests more than 1 100 individuals, and seizes nearly six tons of illicit drugs. Annually, CBP facilitates an average of more than $3 trillion (R38 824 200 000 000) in legitimate trade while enforcing U.S. trade laws.
