Customs Lacks Paperwork for High-Risk Containers

Customs and Border Protection should do a better job of documenting why it inspects or waives the inspection of ocean containers it has identified as having a high risk for terrorist tampering, according to the Department of Homeland Security inspector general.

Investigators found that out of a sample of 391 containers, 57 lacked the paperwork to say why Customs waived or held them for x-ray inspection. The sample came from 269,813 high-risk boxes that entered the United States in fiscal 2007 and 2008.

Under the rules, all containers that CBP’s Automated Targeting System identifies as high-risk must go through nonintrusive examination procedures.

Along with better record keeping, the inspector general’s office recommended updating the ATS targeting rules.

The report may be found online at http://www.dhs.gov/xoig/assets/mgmtrpts/OIG_10-34_Jan10.pdf

Contact R.G. Edmonson at bedmonson@joc.com.