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U.S., Panama Agree to Combat Nuclear Smuggling

Monday, February 12, 2007   Panama City, Panama — The United States and Panama signed a Declaration of Principles today to help prevent smuggling of nuclear and other radioactive material.   The Department of Homeland Security’s Customs and Border Protection and the Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration cosigned the declaration on behalf of the U.S. The document covers implementation of CBP’s Container Security Initiative and the Nuclear Security Administration’s Megaports Initiative and as both programs continue to collaborate to stop nuclear material from being smuggled to U.S. ports.   Launched weeks after the terrorist attacks of 2001, CBP’s Container Security Initiative is a cooperative effort with host country governments toentify and screen high-risk shipments before they leave participating ports. About 82 percent of all cargo containers destined for U.S. shores originate in or are transshipped through 50 CSI ports in North America, Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and North, South and Central America.   CBP hopes to certify CSI operations at the Panamanian ports of Colon, Manzanillo and Balboa this year.   All future CSI ports will benefit from the Megaports involvement, which installs specialized radiation detection equipment and enhanced capabilities to deter, detect and interdict illicit shipments of nuclear and other radioactive materials at international ports. The initiative currently is operational in six countries, and at various stages of implementation and negotiations with approximately 30 other countries around the world.   “Securing global trade is a major priority for CBP, so I am pleased to be partnering with Panama and the Megaports 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, but realize that cooperation from our friends around the globe is our most potent weapon.”   U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of U.S. borders at and between official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.   Established by Congress in 2000, the National Nuclear Security Administration is a semi-autonomous agency within the U.S. Department of Energy responsible for enhancing national security through the military application of nuclear science. NNSA maintains and enhances the safety, security, reliability and performance of the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile without nuclear testing. The Agency also works to reduce global danger from weapons of mass destruction, provides the U.S. Navy with safe and effective nuclear propulsion, and responds to nuclear and radiological emergencies in the U.S. and abroad.   U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation’s borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.

    Contacts For This News Release   1300 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.Room 3.4AWashington, D.C  20229 Media Services Phone: (202) 344-1780 or (800) 826-1471 CBP HeadquartersOffice of Public Affairs1300 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.Room 3.4AWashington, DC 20229 Phone: (202) 344-1770 or(800) 826-1471 Fax: (202) 344-1393