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Report Urges CBP Improvements in Detecting Biological, Chemical Threats in Cargo Containers |
A recent report from the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General makes several recommendations on how U.S. Customs and Border Protection can improve its ability to detect biological and chemical threats in maritime cargo containers. Biological threats, such as weaponized anthrax, smallpox and foot-and-mouth disease, are disease-causing viruses or bacteria that can kill or cause harm to individuals or agricultural resources. Chemical threats, such as sarin and mustard gas, harm individuals or groups of people through exposure to toxic chemical substances.
The report states that CBP has taken steps to mitigate the threat of nuclear and radiological weapons in maritime cargo containers but could do more to mitigate the threats posed by biological and chemical weapons. CBP officials told OIG that new devices are currently being developed and tested that could help officers rapidly detect and identify biological and chemical threats during cargo inspections, but the report points out that the agency has not yet conducted a formal risk assessment to determine which pathways pose the highest risk of biological and chemical weapons entering the U.S. and whether deploying new resources in the maritime cargo environment will therefore provide the most benefit. OIG recommended that CBP conduct or commission such an assessment, but CBP expressed a belief that it will be well-positioned to identify the highest risk pathways as a result of its participation in two DHS initiatives that are expected to be completed by Aug. 31, 2010.
CBP also has not provided updated guidance to support inspections of cargo containers for biological and chemical threats, the report states. CBP officers have broadened their examination techniques to search for weapons of mass destruction and are trained to secure and isolate potentially hazardous containers, but different operating procedures were observed at several ports. By contrast, OIG said, updated policies that promote information sharing would provide examining officers with consistent knowledge of the possibility of biological or chemical threats. CBP responded that its Office of Field Operations has initiated efforts to update the Anti-Terrorism Contraband Enforcement Team National Directive and to explore the development of a training module for CBP officers that would include the different types of inspections and examinations .These initiatives are expected to be completed by June 30, 2010. |
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