U.S., Israel Agree to Join Forces to Secure Sea Containers

Customs and government officials of the United States and Israel signed a declaration of principles to help prevent smuggling of nuclear and other radioactive material.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Israel's Customs Directorate cosigned the declaration that will bring CBP's Container Security Initiative to the ports of Haifa and Ashdod in Israel. CSI has 50 operational ports throughout the world, representing 32 international governments. These ports are the origin of more than 80 percent of the cargo shipped to the United States.

"Securing global trade is a major priority for CBP, so I am pleased to be partnering with Israel to expand the Container Security Initiative," said CBP Commissioner W. Ralph Basham. "We are committed to using high-tech equipment and smarter, more secure containers to safeguard the supply chain, and realize that cooperation from our friends around the globe is our most potent weapon."

Launched weeks after the terrorist attacks of 2001, CBP's Container Security Initiative is a cooperative effort with host country governments to identify and screen high-risk shipments before they leave participating ports.
Representing CBP at the signing will be Assistant Commissioner Jayson Ahern. Signing for Israel will be Mr. Ami Segal, Director General of the Israeli Customs Directorate. Doron Arbely, Israel's Tax Authority's Senior Deputy Director General of Investigations, Intelligence and Drugs also will attend, as will Robert Stiriti, Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Attach