government

Maritime head reports success

LA PRENSA

Rodrigo Cigarruista975986

Rodrigo Cigarruista, director of the Servicio Marítimo Nacional, says that when he took the helm of the agency nine months ago, it was like a ship adrift on the ocean.

"There were no procedures," the director said. "The management was inconsistent and uncontrolled."

Among his first changes were to upgrade the agency's computer system and to install a radio system. Cigarruista, who replaced Ricardo Traad after the latter resigned following his arrest on money laundering charges, said the changes have made the agency more efficient.

The agency focused on four key areas last year, piracy, smuggling, illegal immigration and drug trafficking. By the numbers, the changes instituted by Cigarruista have apparently had an impact.

In 2007 there were 73 arrests related to smuggling, up from eight in 2006. The agency intercepted 113 illegal immigrants last year, up from 23 the year before. The agency confiscated six more tons of drugs last year as compared to 2006.

When Cigarruista took office, only 13 percent of the agency's fleet of boats were operational. At the end of 2007, that number had risen to 87 percent.