Aviation securityDHS tightens air cargo security measures
In the wake of the failed air cargo plot, DHS has announced a series of measures to tighten air cargo security; among the measures: no high risk cargo will be allowed on passenger aircraft; toner and ink cartridges over sixteen ounces will be prohibited on passenger aircraft in both carry-on bags and checked bags on domestic and international flights in-bound to the United States
Following the thwarted terrorist plot last week to conceal and ship explosive devices on board aircraft bound for the United States, the administration took a number of steps yesterday to increase security by tightening existing measures related to cargo bound for the United States.
Some of the steps that have been taken by DHS included adapting inbound cargo targeting rules to reflect the latest intelligence and ordering a ground halt on all cargo coming from Yemen. In addition, Transportation Security Administration (TSA) administrator John S. Pistole and a team of TSA inspectors visited Yemen to meet with government security officials and to assist in enhancing Yemen’s security procedures, which are necessary to eventually lift the ground halt on cargo.
Late last week, TSA directed industry carriers to begin implementing additional precautionary security measures for international flights inbound to the United States. These measures take effect today. Specifically, the ban on air cargo from Yemen will continue and has been extended to all air cargo from Somalia as well. In addition, no high risk cargo will be allowed on passenger aircraft. Toner and ink cartridges over sixteen ounces will be prohibited on passenger aircraft in both carry-on bags and checked bags on domestic and international flights in-bound to the United States. This ban will also apply to certain inbound international air cargo shipments as well. Further, all cargo identified as high risk will go through additional and enhanced screening. These measures also impact inbound international mail packages, which must be screened individually and certified to have come from an established postal shipper.
DHS secretary Janet Napolitano said the administration is also working closely with industry and our international partners to expedite the receipt of cargo manifests for international flights to the United States prior to departure in order to identify and screen items based on risk and current intelligence. She said: “We are also working with our international and private sector partners on the expansion of layered detections system including technology and other measures.”
