The busiest port in the Caribbean, the Port of San Juan, encompasses eight cargo terminals and more than 500,000 square feet and receives tons of cargo each day, both for domestic delivery and in transit. This huge traffic volume, while a vital part of the island’s economy, is also a major challenge for the Puerto Rico Ports Authority (PRPA), the entity charged with overseeing port security, and Hacienda, which ensures that import taxes and tariffs are properly paid by shippers.
This challenge was compounded by the passage of Puerto Rico Law 12, the Safe Port Act, which mandated 100 percent cargo screening for all of Puerto Rico’s ports, including San Juan. While the primary focus of the law was to reduce smuggling and ensure that the proper tariffs were paid on goods coming into the island, enhanced screening and security measures played an important role.