DHS: Chem-bio detection in containers lags

DHS: Chem-bio detection in containers lags    U.S. Customs and Border Protection has not taken sufficient measures to protect against the threat of chemical and biological weapons smuggled in an ocean container the way it has with nuclear and radiological devices, according to a report recently released by the Department of Homeland Security's Inspector General.
   The audit recommended that CBP conduct a formal risk assessment to determine which methods of entry, including maritime containers, pose the greatest risk of chem-bio weapons entering the country. The agency has not followed through on its own promise in 2007 to conduct such an exercise. CBP relies on risk assessments prepared by other government agencies to target shipments for inspection of chemical or biological weapons, the report said.
   Inspector General Richard Skinner also said that CBP needs improved guidelines for chem-bio inspections. Better instructions could address inconsistent procedures at ports of entry, as well as improve detection capability and officer safety. Auditors noted that customs officers at one port of entry were given a manifest and the reason a container was targeted for inspection, while at another port supervisors withheld the targeting information so officers would not be predisposed to search for a specific threat.
   CBP officials told investigators that new devices are being developed and tested that could help officers rapidly detect and identify biological and chemical threats during cargo inspections. The technologies would be used in secondary inspections after a suspicious container was identified through regular screening of shipment information and virtual X-ray exams.
   A risk assessment will help CBP determine whether deploying the new technology in the maritime cargo environment is the best use of limited resources given other unspecified access routes into the country, the heavily redacted report said. In the past, DHS officials have expressed interest in devoting more attention to the terrorist threat posed by small boats and general aviation aircraft.
   CBP and DHS said they plan to complete a risk assessment by the end of August, 2010 and an updated training module by the end of June. ' Eric Kulisch