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U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Officers
Thwart Human Smuggling
Attempt
BUFFALO, NY- U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officers
apprehended two Guyanese nationals as they attempted to enter the
United States illegally as stowaways aboard an inbound commercial
truck. CBP Officers using gamma-imaging technology discovered the
two individuals hiding in a container of Styrofoam trays.
On March 29, 2006, at 12:30 a.m., Mootilan Ramphal, a Trinidadian
national with Landed Immigrant Status in Canada, applied for entry
into the United States at the Peace Bridge Port of Entry. Ramphal
presented a manifest and invoice for Styrofoam trays and window
hardware. CBP officers selected the shipment for a secondary
enforcement exam. During the course of the inspection, CBP
officers utilized the Vehicle and Cargo Inspection System (VACIS),
a passive, non-intrusive inspection (NII) device employing
gamma-ray technology to produce a high-resolution image of the
conveyance's contents (see photo below). The scan produced
anomalies consistent with that of stowaways in the nose of the
container. A physical inspection of the container resulted in the
discovery of two Guyanese nationals commingled within the
legitimate freight. Both individuals were taken into custody
without incident.
The two individuals were identified as Bramhadaut Prashad and
Debra Appadu, both Guyanese nationals without proper documentation
to enter or remain in the United States. Both subjects were
arrested on federal charges of illegal entry and conspiracy. Ramphal
was arrested on federal charges of alien smuggling. "All three
individuals were turned over to agents from Immigration and
Customs Enforcement for further investigation and prosecution by
the United States Attorney's office," stated James Engleman,
director, Field Operations for CBP Buffalo Field Office.
NII
systems use advanced imaging and density-detecting technologies in
the evaluation of the contents of trucks, containers, cargo, and
passenger vehicles to determine the possible presence of many
types of contraband. CBP in the Port of Buffalo, as well as many
ports throughout the United States, utilize a wide variety of
non-intrusive inspection systems. In addition to the mobile VACIS
units, CBP Officers utilize rail gamma-imaging systems, radiation
portal monitors and personal radiation detectors. "These
technologically advanced tools assist CBP officers in executing
their primary mission of ensuring terrorists and weapons of terror
do not enter the United States," stated Engleman.
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 The
Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism program announces a
phased implementation of Supply Chain Security Criteria for Sea
Carrier and Highway Carrier members.
Security
Criteria for C-TPAT Highway Carriers
http://www.customs.gov/xp/cgov/import/commercial_enforcement/ctpat/security_criteria/hwy_carrier_criteria/
Effective March
13, 2006, the new Highway Carrier Minimum Security Criteria for
U.S./Canada and U.S./Mexico Highway Carriers becomes effective.
Security
Criteria for C-TPAT Importers
http://www.customs.gov/xp/cgov/import/commercial_enforcement/ctpat/security_criteria/criteria_importers/
Effective March
25, 2005, CBP implements new importer supply chain security
criteria and changes the importer application process.
Security
Criteria for C-TPAT Sea Carriers
http://www.customs.gov/xp/cgov/import/commercial_enforcement/ctpat/security_criteria/sea_carrier_criteria/
Effective March
1, 2006, the new Sea Carrier Minimum Security Criteria for C-TPAT
members becomes effective.
Press Office U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Port of Cortes,
Honduras Becomes 44th Container Security Initiative Port;
First Central
American Nation to Target and Pre-Screen Cargo to U.S.
Washington, D.C.
— For the first time, U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP)
Container Security Initiative (CSI), an innovative program that
works cooperatively with foreign governments to target and
pre-screen maritime containerized cargo before it heads to the
United States, is expanding to Central America. CBP Acting
Commissioner Deborah J. Spero and the Republic of Honduras today
announced the Port of Cortes as the 44th operational CSI port
allowing cargo to be screened for terrorist and terrorist weapons.
A joint
declaration of principles was signed on December 15, 2005 and, in
addition to bringing the CSI program to Honduras, also brings the
U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security
Administration’s (NNSA) MegaPorts Initiative. The Department of
Energy will install large-scale and sophisticated radiological
detection equipment to identify nuclear material as part of this
initiative.
“The primary
purpose of the Container Security Initiative is to protect the
American public by securing the global trading system,” said
Acting Commissioner Spero. “By bringing CSI to the Port of
Cortes, the Republic of Honduras is helping to address the threat
to global trade making it more secure against terrorist
exploitation. CBP will continue to expand the CSI security
blanket to additional foreign ports.”
"Through CSI, the
Port of Cortes now has the chance to ship more containers to the
United States which will directly benefit the Republic of Honduras
because foreign investors will see the country as an easy and
secure way to send their merchandise to the United States,” said
Charles A. Ford, U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Honduras.
“This will open more job and commerce opportunities, especially
once the Central America Free Trade Act (CAFTA) enters into
effect.”
U.S. Customs and
Border Protection will deploy a multidisciplinary team of officers
to be stationed at the Port of Cortes to target maritime
containers destined for the United States. Honduran Customs
officials, working with CBP officers, will be responsible for
screening any containers identified as a potential terrorist risk.
With the Port of
Cortes, there are now 44 operational CSI ports in Europe, Asia,
Africa, the Middle East, and North, South, and Central America.
Approximately 75 percent of cargo containers headed to the U.S.
originate in or are transshipped from CSI ports. CBP’s goal is to
have 50 operational CSI ports by the end of 2006. At that time,
82 percent of all cargo imported into the United States will be
subjected to pre-screening.
The Container
Security Initiative will continue to expand to strategic locations
around the world. The World Customs Organization (WCO), the
European Union (EU), and the G8 support CSI expansion and have
adopted resolutions implementing CSI security measures introduced
at ports throughout the world. Today, a total of 27 customs
administrations have committed to join CSI and are in various
stages of implementation.
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U.S. CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION HAS SEIZED
ANOTHER $6 MILLION TEXTILE PRODUCTS
Washington,
D.C. —
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), in an effort to enforce
U.S. trade laws and regulations, has seized $6 million textile
products since February 24, 2006. This brings the total amount of
textile goods seized in FY06 to more than $20 million.
In the past three
weeks 26 seizures were made. Almost all of those seizures were
based on the violation of Chinese safeguard/quota requirements. "CBP
is charged with enforcing trade laws and we continue to be focused
on the circumvention of quotas," said Acting Commissioner, Deborah
J. Spero.
CBP Import
Specialists with specialized commodity knowledge analyze and
review textile imports for possible violations at the ports of
entry.
"CBP continues to
maintain a robust trade enforcement program. The CBP Import
Specialists will continue to review textile shipments to ensure
compliance with laws and regulations governing imports," said
Janet Labuda, Director, Textile Enforcement and Operations
Division. |
