Source: Campo Grande News - Campo Grande / MS - 30/03/2010

The DOF (Department of Border Operations) received a total of 54 calls last year through the hotline. From January 2010 until now there have been 15 complaints.

Of the calls, about 80% come from. The DOF commander, Colonel Joel Martins dos Santos said that in addition to the complaints made by the 0800-647-6300 number, people also call at the DOF headquarters or on the police officers' cell phone.

"Of the total calls we receive, 80% are valid, that is, when we identify the problem, we verify that the complaint is well founded," he said.

According to the colonel, as soon as the complaints arrive, the information is checked. “The population is waiting for an immediate response, but the work must be monitored with safety, time and care by the agents. In the case of a mouthpiece, it is necessary to check if there is a drug sales point or if it is just a place to negotiate. The agent monitors this place for a while and checks if there is also known ant work ”, he explained.

The DOF commander makes a point of stressing the importance of anonymous calls to denounce, among other crimes, the functioning of the smoking mouth, smuggling, drug trafficking and narcotics that will cross the border.

Santos also recalls another complaint that resulted in the seizure of more than 30 packages of cigarettes in the region of Ponta Porã, in February this year.

Complaints can be made by calling 0800 647 6300. The call is free and the person does not need to identify himself. The service is open 24 hours a day, every day.