A bill to give the Guam Customs and Quarantine Agency (CQA) more time to establish a long-planned customs satellite inspection facility in Piti is moving forward with strong backing from public safety officials. Senator Shawn Gumataotao’s Bill No. 183-38 (COR) would provide CQA an additional two years to finalize plans and secure funding for the project, which was first authorized under Public Law 34-112 in 2018.
CQA leaders testified that a Container Inspection Facility Working Group formed in 2024 continues to address design, operational needs, equipment, and financing for the project. Senator Gumataotao said the facility is essential to prevent potential terrorist threats. “We as government leaders and security experts all over the Pacific are worried that the maritime transportation system could be used by terrorists to smuggle personnel, weapons of mass destruction, or other dangerous materials into the United States,” he said.
Attorney General Douglas Moylan wrote in support of the measure, stressing that 100% inspection of all containers at the Port of Guam is necessary to reduce crime. CQA Director Ike Peredo added that the facility would enhance island-wide security by centralizing inspections and isolating potential threats. Chief of Customs Vincent Perez emphasized that the bill is not a delay but “ensuring that Guam finally establishes the Customs inspection facility our island has needed for decades.”
The Port Authority of Guam also endorsed the measure, citing the island’s role as a transshipment hub serving Micronesia and the Pacific. Guam Youth Congress Representative Charlie Balbastro testified that the facility is vital to curb violence and drug activity. Gumataotao said the bill reflects concerns raised during recent defense forums about vulnerabilities at U.S. ports, noting that securing Guam’s port infrastructure helps safeguard both local residents and global maritime commerce.