(Opening music)
ANNCR: On October 28, 2010, the global counter-terrorism
community disrupted a potential attack when individuals with
ties to al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula in Yemen attempted to
conceal and ship explosive devices in cargo aboard
aircraft ultimately destined for the United States.
Within days, U.S. Customs and Border Protection met with the
Transportation Security Administration and with members
of the transportation and trade industries.
Our shared objective: plug the gaps in air cargo security and
ensure that a similar incident never happens again.
The result of this collaboration was the Air Cargo Advance
Screening program, or ACAS.
THOMAS WINKOWSKI: CBP's mission is ensuring the safety
of transport carriers and the traveling public, from
the point of origin of a US-bound cargo shipment to its
arrival on a U.S. tarmac. Air Cargo Advance Screening,
ACAS is how we make that happen.
ANNCR: ACAS enhances the Federal enforcement strategy
by using intelligence and risk-based analysis to assess
and screen suspicious shipments.
JOHN SAMMON: ACAS enables trade partners to
provide pre-departure shipment information to CBP and TSA for
joint analysis early in the process. The ACAS pilot analyzes
this advance data using CBP's Automated Targeting System. ACAS
identifies shipments that may pose potential aviation security
risks, so that they may be further screened.
DANIEL BALDWIN: We started with 28 countries in the Middle
East and North Africa, and we are expanding next into Europe
and, eventually, around the globe.
ANNCR: Initially, ACAS focused on the threats identified by the
Yemen plot by gathering and analyzing intelligence developed
by the international counter-terrorism community.
THOMAS WINKOWSKI: We listened to our trade and transportation
stakeholders, and we agreed to expedite air cargo to its
destination. At the same time, we are working together to
increase security. Our collaborative solution, ACAS
is designed to partner with air cargo stakeholders to
leverage supply chain information at the earliest
possible point. Working in concert with the TSA screening
processes, we are achieving our shared objectives.
NORM SCHENK: ACAS improves supply chain security. It also
benefits trade and transportation participants.
By providing better data earlier in the process, ACAS reduces the
number of inspections and improves customs
clearance times.
ANNCR: CBP regulations, created pursuant to the authority
granted by the Trade Act of 2002, required that the carrier
transmit air cargo manifest data to CBP no later than 4 hours
before arrival, or at the wheels up stage for flights departing
from within North America or north of the equator.
The regulatory data requirements enabled CBP to
conduct risk analysis to identify potential high-risk
shipments prior to the aircraft's arrival to the
United States, but not before the cargo was loaded.
ROBBY BEAU: What the Yemen incident taught us was that CBP
needed to get this information faster. Now, using ACAS, CBP and
TSA get information at the earliest point in the supply
chain, allowing for the identification and interception
of high-risk shipments before the cargo is loaded
onto a US-bound plane.
ANNCR: A joint CBP-TSA analysis team, operating at CBP's
National Targeting Center for Cargo, analyzes the advance
shipping information using sophisticated screening rules
and techniques. For ACAS participants, once their cargo
lands in the U.S., it can proceed to its destination with
minimal processing, revving the engine of commerce and
benefiting their bottom lines.
In the first six months of the ACAS pilot, CBP and TSA received
advance data on over a million shipments.
BARBARA VATIER: CBP and TSA have collaborated closely
with air cargo stakeholders to phase in ACAS using a pilot
program approach. The airline industry appreciates this
partnership with government and the opportunity to work together
in a way that improves security while speeding the transport of
goods. If air cargo is your business, please join us in this
important initiative.
DANIEL BALDWIN: The advance screening of pre-departure air
shipment data adds an important layer of security to our private
sector partners, enhancing our ability to secure air cargo
destined for the United States and helping to protect America 24/7.
ANNCR: Air Cargo Advance Screening. The future of
international air cargo security.
Faster, safer, delivered.
(Closing music)