Air Cargo Security Threats - Role of Customs
++ The international trade supply chain is a complex system of interconnected parties, places and exchanges of information that is of critical importance to global prosperity and well-being but is vulnerable to disruption.
++ Recently, an attempt was made to use air cargo as a delivery mechanism for explosive devices. The plot was prevented by the coordinated actions of several agencies, including Customs, responding to specific intelligence information.
++ The successful response to the threat shows the need for the contribution of, and close co-operation between, all public and private sector stakeholders.
++ WCO and Customs administrations have an important role to play in air cargo security.
++ Based on the WCO's extensive experience in maritime security, many of the lessons learned are relevant to all other modes of transport (air, rail and road).
++ Customs possesses information on supply chains as well as powers to inspect, in principle, every cross-border movement of goods, passengers and conveyances.
++ This range of knowledge and authority places Customs in a unique position to specify data requirements, analyse transaction data, monitor cargo movements, identify high-risk cargo, and apply various control techniques including knowledge of traders, risk analysis, scanning and physical examination.
WCO Instruments and Tools that Contribute to Air Cargo Security:
++ The WCO has a series of instruments and tools that contribute to the protection of the air cargo system.
++ In 2005 the WCO adopted the SAFE Framework of Standards to Secure and Facilitate Global Trade, to strengthen end-to-end supply chain security through enhanced Customs-to-Customs networking and formal partnerships with trade. The SAFE Framework places emphasis on risk analysis and export control, preferably based on advance cargo data.
++ The SAFE Framework also encourages use of non-intrusive technology (NIT) as a component of a risk-based processing system.
++ The SAFE Framework contains the Customs/Business innovation of Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) programmes, which provides benefits to administrations and security partners in the private sector.
++ WCO Members use the Harmonized System (HS) Code as the global standard to identify goods in international trade.
++ The WCO promotes usage of the WCO Data Model as the global standard that links goods, related parties, and means of transport together for risk assessment and compliance verification.
++ The WCO advocates use of its Customs Enforcement Network (CEN), its communication tool CENcomm and the national application nCEN.
++ All of these WCO instruments and tools can be used to track goods and to share information with other government agencies in order to deter future air cargo security incidents.
All Customs administrations must have the capacity and skills across every dimension of the operating model to perform efficiently and effectively.
The Policy Commission of the WCO is meeting in Shanghai 6 th through 8th December 2010 and an important subject on the agenda was threats to air cargo security.