Dominican Republic Customs

Thruvision people-screening systems at Las Américas International Airport (AILA) have helped to foil an attempt to smuggle 74 high-end smartphones into the Dominican Republic.

The passenger, who was travelling from New York, was carrying the devices without proper declaration on his body and in his luggage. DGA officers used Thruvision cameras to discover 42 devices attached to the passenger’s legs and body, despite some of the devices being covered by a belt.

The Thruvision cameras were deployed as part of a pilot last year at Las Américas, Punta Cana, Cibao and Puerto Plata airports after being certified to pose no risk to human health by the National Energy Commission (CNE).

Thruvision technology uses a part of the electromagnetic spectrum known as Terahertz to detect items concealed in clothing. Because the cameras are completely passive and use only the Terahertz energy naturally emitted by the human body to detect concealed items, they are safe for everyone, including pregnant women, children and people with medical implants.

Unlike many detection technologies Thruvision enables the Operator to see the size, shape and location of any concealed items in real-time, so it is possible for the Operator to carry out a non-intrusive ‘virtual patdown’ from a safe distance without needing to approach or touch the subject. The passenger at Las Américas International Airport was observed from a distance in this way, with the contraband devices clearly visible under his clothing.

However, thermal imagery from Thruvision cameras is also respectful, as it does not show private body detail and does not enable age, gender or ethnicity to be determined.

Over 360 Thruvision cameras are currently deployed in Customs organisations in eleven countries worldwide including the United States, Thailand, the Philippines, Hong Kong and Saudi Arabia.

Due to its high throughput rate and ability to detect all types of concealed items, including non-metallic items, Thruvision is used extensively across a variety of markets as well as Customs, including:

Retail Distribution, both to deter and detect both outbound employee theft, and inbound contraband, such as weapons and drugs.

Entrances and Venues, to detect mass casualty devices.

Aviation, to screen airport workers entering controlled areas.

To find out more, go to www.thruvision.com or email us at info@thruvision.com.