Cutting-Edge Technologies Secure Nation's Seaports

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Assistant Commissioner, Jayson Ahern and Domestic Nuclear Detection Office Director, Vayl Oxford joined Homeland Security Deputy Secretary Michael Jackson and House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Peter King in unveiling the newest radiation portal monitors that will be used to inspect some of the nearly 11 million cargo containers entering U.S. seaports every year. (How Cargo Flows Securely to the U.S.) These U.S.-made detection devices will provide CBP officers with even more tools to keep terrorists and terrorist weapons from entering the country.

"Keeping our nation's seaports safe by using cutting edge technologies is a critical component in securing America's borders," said Assistant Commissioner Ahern. "Radiation portal monitors are bridging the gateways to a radiation and nuclear-free global environment by allowing highly trained CBP officers to better deter, detect and defend Americans from a potential terror attack."

Presently, CBP operates over 680 radiation portal monitors at our nation's ports (including 214 radiation portal monitors at seaports), uses over 174 large scale non-intrusive inspection devices to examine cargo, and has issued 566 hand-held radiation isotope identifier devices and nearly 13,000 personal radiation detectors for CBP officers working at ports across the country.

"At the Committee on Homeland Security, port security remains our top priority," King said. "We must do everything in our power to prevent another terrorist attack on U.S. soil. That means working with DHS to strengthen our domestic security measures, improving capabilities to target high risk containers, and providing our ports with the most advanced security technology, such as mobile Radiation Portal Monitors."

CBP thanked Chairman King and Members of the Committee for their support in the previous fiscal year and continued support in funding critical components of CBP's port security initiatives.