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CNN Live Today
Customs Commissioner Demonstrates Anti-terrorism Technology
Aired June 03, 2002 - 12:21 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: The movie "The Sum of All Fears" gives Americans a look at what could happen in the event of a nuclear attack. Today, the government is showing off technology that could prevent such a terrorist catastrophe from happening.
Our Jeanne Meserve is live from Washington, with more on that.
Jeanne, I never thought of the Customs Service as being on the front line.
JEANNE MESERVE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, they are at every port of this country. And what they're trying to do is ease public fears about the threat of a weapon of mass destruction coming into this country. Customs Commissioner Robert Bonner says no program is foolproof, but the situation is much better now than it was before September 11.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERT BONNER, U.S. CUSTOMS COMMISSIONER: The U.S. Customs Service, along with other agencies of the United States government, but particularly U.S. Customs, has stepped out and taken steps that have, in my judgment, substantially decreased the possibility that an international terrorist organization could smuggle in, let's say, a weapon of mass destruction -- certainly any kind of radiological material or any kind of nuclear device. It's much, much, much less likely that that could happen today than before 9/11, as a result of some very alert steps the U.S. Customs has taken.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MESERVE: This mobile laboratory is one of three the Customs Service owns. It's one of the reasons why Commissioner Bonner is so confident in the United States' ability to stop a weapons of mass destruction.
Ira is with me, executive director of the labs -- thanks so much.
You're going to show me some of the devices you use. Some of these have to do with radiation. Show me what you've got here.
IRA REESE, U.S. CUSTOMS: Yes. Over here we have a radiation pager, which are deployed. The U.S. Customs inspectors wear this on their belt and will tell you whether or not there is any nuclear material in the area.
We have here an isotope identifier, which, basically, when you get a positive, you'll take another reading with the isotope identifier. The isotope identifier will tell you which nuclear materials are there, at what strength, whether or not they need to be regarded or disregarded, such as a medical isotope that somebody might have them for a medical reason -- and it could be disregarded, or perhaps something worse.
MESERVE: Biological weapons also a concern. And you have some anthrax detection capability.
REESE: Yes. We have here what is known as a smart card. A smart card is a spot test used to determine if there is any anthrax on the surface or in the area. Basically,it's a swab-type of testing, and basically, you take your swabbing, you dilute it, and you drop it, and you'll get either one or two lines detecting whether or not anthrax is there or not.
MESERVE: Now, I know in the early stages of the anthrax scare there were a lot of test kits out there that weren't reliable. How reliable is this?
REESE: They have gotten quite well. This one is quite reliable. If you do get a positive anthrax on this test, it's time to evacuate the area and start taking more sterner measures.
MESERVE: OK. What is this device here?
REESE: This is known as a vapor tracer. This tracer basically analyzes the atmosphere of an area, such as a cargo container or a piece of luggage. And what it will do, it will take in the vapors, it will analyze it versus knowns of different types of explosives. If there's a match, you'll get a readout as a match for an explosive, and it's time to take measures to stabilize the area for the possibility that explosives are in the area.
MESERVE: OK. And there's one more machine back here. We've got tight quarters here. It's going to take us just a second to back up.
And this ion track, what does this do?
REESE: This is a specific type of explosives detector. Basically, what this does is you swab an area down and you put in the instrument and you'll get a detection. Currently, now you'll see (UNINTELLIGIBLE); it says, "Drugs detected." But if you look, you'll see -- it will detect whether or not there are explosives there or not.
MESERVE: Now is this similar to the devices being used in airports now?
REESE: It's extremely -- the technology is almost identical, yes. This is a little bit more sophisticated, though.
MESERVE: Great. Ira Reese, thanks so much for joining us here today.
One reasons why Customs believes it is able to keep track of those 11 million containers coming into the country every year -- Carol, back to you.
LIN: Pretty amazing. Thank you very much, Jeanne Meserve.
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