Successful cases

In recent years, the Customs and Excise Department (C&ED) has been committed to implementing the Smart Customs Blueprint by introducing more advanced equipment with functions of automatic contraband detection. To assist the C&ED in this connection, the EMSD has supplied Mobile Inspection Vans, Mobile X-ray Vehicle Scanning Systems and Mobile X-ray Inspection Medium Trucks, which have greatly enhanced the efficiency and accuracy of contraband detection, thereby improving the C&ED’s customs clearance effectiveness and law enforcement capabilities, as well as optimising the C&ED’s services.

The Mobile Inspection Vans are capable of accessing various boundary control points and container terminals to help detect suspicious vehicles and containers. The X-ray tubes installed on the vans can detect the backscatter X-ray energy that scatters from any objects, and produce X-ray images. Organic substances, such as explosives and drugs, will be highlighted in the images formed by the backscatter X-ray energy, which can facilitate the C&ED’s work to search for contraband.

Regarding the Mobile X-Ray Vehicle Scanning System, the X-ray tubes installed with linear accelerators are capable of generating high-energy X-ray beams. The highly penetrating X-rays enable effective scanning of vehicles made of high-density materials as well as the objects on them. The system has been deployed at different control points to assist in identifying contraband and illegal immigrants inside vehicles or cargos.

Another effective and convenient mobile solution for the C&ED is the Mobile X-ray Inspection Medium Truck used for cargo scanning. Equipped with a built-in X-ray inspection device, the truck can conduct speedy checks on cargos or postal articles. The X-ray inspection device has a total of three X-ray tubes that scan objects from multiple angles to generate three cross sectional images. Compared with the computed tomography scanning technology, this inspection device can produce similar three-dimensional images of objects at a lower cost and it is able to be applied in the inspection of all types of objects. This mobile inspection system brings convenience and flexibility to the C&ED’s daily inspection operation.

In addition to providing the above solutions to assist the C&ED in implementing the Smart Customs Blueprint, the EMSD is actively promoting the application of I&T in different government departments and supporting client departments in their path towards building a smart city by developing diversified and flexible solutions.