EXBS: SUPPORTING RUSSIAN CUSTOMS' EFFORTS TO IMPROVE

UNCLAS MOSCOW 001503 C O R R E C T E D C O P Y (ADDED TEXT TO SUMMARY) SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED SIPDIS DEPT FOR NP/ECC - ACHURCH DEPT FOR EUR/ACE - DMARTIN CBP/INA FOR PWARKER USDOE/NNSA FOR TPERRY E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETTC MNUC PARM PREL KSTC KNNP UP RS SUBJECT: EXBS: SUPPORTING RUSSIAN CUSTOMS' EFFORTS TO IMPROVE CARGO INSPECTION TECHNOLOGY Summary: This cable describes the recent visit of Russian Customs officers to the US, May 16-23, for technical discussions and demonstrations of Non-Intrusive Inspection (NII)equipment. The visit was hosted by the Office of International Affairs of US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) under the Export Controls and Related Border Security (EXBS) program. End Summary 1.(SBU) Seven Moscow-based Russian customs professionals, representing the logistical support, information technology, radiation technology, and international cooperation departments, visited the US cities of Washington, DC; Savannah, GA; and Buffalo, NY for an intensive week of consultations and field observations of equipment used to inspect cargo by means of x-ray and gamma-ray technology. The EXBS Russia Advisor, EXBS Program Coordinator, and Program Manager from the CBP Office of International Affairs accompanied the delegation, providing program and logistical support. 2.(SBU) Russian Customs has already purchased NII equipment and is in the process of installing it in border crossing points. They had specifically requested the meetings and demonstrations in order to witness how the technology was deployed in actual working situations. In Washington, DC, the delegation participated in a series of interactive meetings with CBP field officers experienced in the use of the US-manufactured VACIS and European-manufactured Smith-Heimann HCV scanning equipment. Judging from the number of technical and financial questions asked, interest was keen, and the group came away with solid knowledge from CBP experts eager to share their experience. ¶4. (SBU) The delegation next traveled to the port of Savannah, Georgia for a classroom introduction to the port and its NII equipment, followed by a visit to the port itself. It should be noted that Savannah, Georgia and Buffalo, NY were chosen for the Customs visit because their geographic locations and equipment used at border control points most closely approximated climactic and technological conditions that could be expected across the vast land mass of Russia. ¶5. (SBU) In Savannah, CBP specialists demonstrated several types of NII scanning equipment in various settings: mounted on trucks; on specially designed chassis; on rails; as well as stationary scanners. Seeing this equipment used in a live setting helped the Russian experts evaluate the advantages and drawbacks of each type of equipment. ¶6. (SBU) The delegation's last stop was Buffalo, NY. Experienced CBP field officers demonstrated NII scanning equipment and techniques, both on cargo and on passenger vehicles entering the US from Canada. A classroom briefing also provided information of specific US-Canadian border protection issues. ¶7. (SBU) Informal conversations with the Russian delegation members during and at the end of the U.S. visit revealed an opinion shift away from European-manufactured equipment and in favor of movable rail-based gamma scanners manufactured by US companies. Whether this change in focus will actually result in a change in Russian Customs Service equipment policy remains to be seen. But what is clear is that the visit was a success, based on the level of enthusiasm shown by the officers. Their leader even made a point of telling the CBP and EXBS program officers that they were very pleased with the extent of technical information provided, and with the ability to observe the equipment in actual use in the field. EXBS Russia looks forward to working with Russian Customs on follow-up activities, to possibly include operator training in the US and/or Russia. BEYRLE