New inspection warehouse for Customs

Officials from Customs, the American Embassy, the US Army Corps of Engineers and the Freeport took part in a ceremony to mark the commencement of works on a warehouse that will become the new offices of Customs at the Freeport.

When completed in about a year, the warehouse will provide a controlled area for the Customs division's cargo inspections at the Freeport.

The project, costing Lm560,000 is being funded by the American government as part of its ongoing programme of assistance to Malta Customs.

In recent years, the US has provided Customs with a vehicle and container inspection system (VACIS) and other equipment and training.

The Army Corps of Engineers is supervising the work which will be carried out by F. Schembri and Sons.

John Mifsud, director general of Customs, and US Ambassador Molly Bordonaro led a traditional ceremony that marks the beginning of work at a construction site, but with a twist.

Wearing hard hats, Mrs Bordonaro and Mr Mifsud hit the existing structure with a sledgehammer, instead of using shovels and breaking new ground.

The US government is funding the project to help the island upgrade its capability to control cargo passing through Maltese territory, the US Embassy said.

"The Customs division has had great success using the US-provided equipment and training to detect and seize illegal drugs, stolen vehicles and counterfeit cigarettes and apparel. Recently, an official of Nike USA visited the Freeport and praised Customs for its efforts in seizing more than 350,000 pieces of fake Nike merchandise in 2005," the embassy said.