Guam Senator William Parkinson and customs officials raised alarms Wednesday over what they call an “honor system” at the Port Authority of Guam, where most incoming cargo is cleared without verification. They warned that the current process leaves the island susceptible to illegal drugs, invasive species, and uninspected contraband.
Parkinson appeared at the legislative hearing on Bill 108-38, which would allow Guam’s Customs and Quarantine Agency (CQA) to enter a public-private partnership for cargo inspections. The bill, originally introduced in the 35th Guam Legislature by Sen. Pedo Terlaje, would authorize private firms to operate X-ray machines, container scanners, and mobile detectors under CQA oversight.
“We trust 90 to 95% of incoming cargo without verification and only randomly sample a few containers due to limited personnel and lack of technology,” Parkinson said in strong support of the bill.
The bill proposes to bolster Guam’s defenses against a surge in methamphetamine trafficking and biosecurity threats. Guam has struggled with rising levels of meth, which officials say is regularly smuggled in via cargo and mail from the Philippines, Taiwan, and elsewhere in the Asia-Pacific region.
Customs Director Ike Peredo supports the bill’s intent to modernize operations, but recommended adjustments to restrict private partners’ role to facility construction, equipment procurement, and technology support.
The bill remains under legislative review and awaits a second public hearing.
