AUSTRALIA has gifted vital x-ray equipment to Solomon Islands Customs and Excise Division (SICED) operations at the Solomon Islands Post Office. This initiative will not only help to disrupt illicit or prohibited goods, but support Solomon Islands’ budget position by improving revenue collection.
Australia’s support forms part of the Solomon Islands Customs and Excise Division (SICED) with its transformational Reform, Modernisation and Capacity Building Strategy.
“Both Australia and Solomon Islands are facing many of the same shared risks and challenges on evolving threats to border security,” His Excellency Rod Hilton, Australian High Commission to Solomon Islands, said.
“The capability we have gifted to Solomon Islands Customs and Excise Division stands to deliver another layer to the safety of the border and is a strong demonstration of Australia’s commitment to our border security partnership with Solomon Islands.”
Mr Peter Hughes, Controller of Customs, said strong screening and intervention capability across all border environments is vital in protecting the Solomon Islands community from revenue evasion and threats such as narcotics, firearms or other prohibited or illicit goods from entering the community.
“We are very pleased to be working alongside the Australian Border Force (ABF), which has been instrumental in delivering new capability to Solomon Islands Customs, and also ongoing training for new officers in x-ray and substance detection, which forms part of our larger strategy,” Mr Hughes said.
“I thank the ABF for their ongoing support, and I warn people who choose to import prohibited or illicit goods whether it be by air, sea or international mail – you will be caught, and you will be prosecuted.”
The provision of this equipment forms part of Australia’s ongoing comprehensive border security capacity building program delivered by in-country ABF officers, focusing on an ambitious transformation of reform and modernisation, improving the capability of all Solomon Islands border enforcement agencies.
Whether at the airport, at the seaports, or the Post Office, Australian support is helping to keep Solomon Islands’ border safe, secure and prosperous.
