The same program that helps speed border crossings for trusted trucking companies has come under scrutiny as Mexican drug dealers look to exploit the system.
Under the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT), approved carriers are allowed through ports of entry after a minimal stop. Since companies in the program have gone through exhaustive background checks for security, about 90 percent of them don’t undergo cargo inspections. For this reason, drug smugglers have wormed their way under the radar, using the system to slip drugs into the U.S.
Though a few instances have occurred on the northern border, the majority of drug finds happen on the border with Mexico. Mexican carriers only comprise 6 percent of the approved carriers, yet earned half of the 71 security violations over the past two years.
Officials grow concerned that carriers in the program who advertise their participation to gain customers inadvertently make themselves more desirable targets for smugglers. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) sent out a security bulletin in August urging increased vigilance from C-TPAT carriers. A few companies in the program haven’t followed established procedures for security, and don’t have proper corporate oversight, the article said.
Source: Todaystrucking.com: Drug traffickers high on FAST truckers.
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