Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has agreed to formally assess the risk of various pathways that chemical and biological threats could enter the United States, according to a report by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Inspector General (IG).
While CBP has taken steps to mitigate the threats posed by concealing radiological and nuclear weapons in sea cargo containers, more can be done to reduce the threats stemming from chemical and biological weapons, the IG says in a redacted report released this week. Conducting such a risk assessment of the potential pathways for these threats coming into the United States would allow CBP to know which pose the greatest risk, help in the valuation of detection technologies under development, and allow the agency to better target its resources, says the report, CBP’s Ability to Detect Biological and Chemical Threats in Maritime Cargo Containers.
In 2007, the agency identified the need to do a risk assessment of where and how biological threats might enter the country “but it has not taken significant action to address this need,” the IG says. Instead, the agency relies on risk assessments done by other government agencies to identify countries, shippers and containers for potential chemical and biological greats, the IG adds.
CBP, in its response to the IG’s recommendation regarding the need for risk assessments, concurs in part, saying it is involved in two DHS initiatives focused on chemical and biological threats.
“Through participation in these initiatives and through the use of their recommendations, CBP will be well positioned to identify pathways that pose the highest risk of biological and chemical weapons entering the country,” CBP says in its response that is included in the IG report. “This will support the acquisition and deployment of biological and chemical detection equipment and will ensure that the appropriate guidance and training is provided to CBP personnel.”
The IG also recommends that CBP develop and issue guidance so that the processes its officers use to examine cargo for threats are consistent from port to port. During its investigation, the IG found that CBP officers followed different operating procedures at several different ports.
CBP agrees with the recommendation and says it is updating its Anti-Terrorism Contraband Enforcement Team National Directive. The agency is also considering developing a training module for its officers that would include different types of inspections and examinations.