Oct. 29, 2010
Security Gaps Plague Cargo Shipping
Screening on Cargo Flights Not as Stringent as on Passenger Flights; Sheer Amount of Shipments Are Difficult to Examine
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Play CBS Video Video Cargo Flight Security Far From Perfect About 37,500 tons of packages are shipped on cargo plans in the U.S., with another 12,500 tons on passenger planes. Armen Keteyian reports that with so much cargo in the air, the current level of security is hardly terror-proof.
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Video Ask CBS News: Yemen Terror Plot Katie Couric asks CBS News' Bob Orr questions submitted from viewers on Facebook about the recent discovery of explosive packages originally sent from Yemen and destined for the U.S.
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Video Cargo Terror Plot Linked to Yemen U.S. officials suspect the two potential bombs found on U.S.- bound cargo jets were the work of a Yemen-based terror group. Bob Orr reports on the investigation.
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A test conducted by CBS News in 2006 showed that five out of six packages were not visibly opened or inspected. (CBS)
At New York airports, that's about 5,500 tons a day; 4,400 tons a day in Los Angeles and more than 2,700 at Chicago's O'Hare.
And while 100 percent of cargo on commercial flights is inspected in some way, screening on cargo flights is far from perfect.
"There is no effective screening process in place right now," said Larry Johnson, an aviation security expert. "There is no requirement to interrogate a package or every package or a sample of packages that are going on board a cargo aircraft to determine whether or not it has a bomb on board."
Estimates are, only a fraction of cargo planes are inspected --less if the cargo has been sent through what's called the known shipper program. With a background check, shippers in that program essentially operate on the honor system.
As of 2008, the TSA says it had 1.4 million approved shippers.
In October of 2006, CBS News tested air cargo security, sending six lead-lined boxes that could have contained a bomb - but instead held high-speed film - on commercial and cargo flights from London, Rio, Paris, and the Washington, D.C. area. The packages were designed to tell us whether they had been opened or x-rayed by security.
Air Cargo Loopholes May Risk Security
Two of our packages were sent on planes containing nothing but cargo - both arrived in our New York offices unopened.
Just one of the six packages CBS sent was opened or inspected.
"We have made a lot of progress in the screening of cargo but this gives us another warning that we should complete the process," said Congressman Ed Markey, D-Mass.
TSA continues to use what it calls a "multi-layered" approach to overall cargo security, including bomb-sniffing dogs and no-notice inspections. But with so much cargo in the air, even this kind of security is hardly terror proof.
Explosives Found on Planes amid US Terror Probe
Obama Won't Change Travel Plans in Light of Threat
Yemen Eyed as Source of Suspicious Packages
Obama Learned of Terror Threat Late Last Night
Suspicious Packages Headed to Jewish Centers
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Add a Comment See all 11 Comments
- Security Gaps, ' what Security ? Didn't know there was a Security in the USA with Borders like they are !
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- Security Gaps, ' what Security ? Didn't know there was a Security in the USA with Borders like they are !
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- Security Gaps Plague Cargo Shipping
Screening on Cargo Flights Not as Stringent as on Passenger Flights; Sheer Amount of Shipments Are Difficult to Examine
LOL!
Didnt Obama and his followers promise to fix that? - Reply to this comment
- UPS SHOULD BE CHARGED EVERY PENNY THAT WAS SPENT ON DETECTING AND DIS CHARGING EXPLOSIVES OR GET THE HELL OUT OF THE RAPE AND PACKAGE BUSINESS! BOYCOTT THEM AND MOVE TO US MAIL AND SUPPORT AMERICANS YOU DUMB SOBS!
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- as if security is better with the boys and girls who coined the phrase "go postal". Usps is on flopps list of worst run operations in the country. Only just above the political system and the military in failures and over charging the taxpayers for lack of service. Thank your local us ps union rep for much of the graft and overcharging. Well done 30 years running in the red and still standing.
- Every time these things happen it is demoralizing. It all so fortifies our courage and integrity to keep defending our Homeland.This is a peculiar war as you know, the enemy is scattered all over the world so it is not like fighting an oncoming battalion of defined space. The enemy is computer savvy and banks on the element of surprise so that a strong defense may be the best offense. I think the airport scanners inculcated the emotion in our fellow Americans that as we persevere our lives will have to be more and more intruded upon in order to save our lives. What ever this was today and they did it again around election time, it is crucial that we ensure cooperation with government and that the most competent leaders are there to make the cogent decisions we must have as a nation.
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- What have we got here? A few more problems with the peace loving Muslims in the Middle East. Can anyone think of a way to take their incentive away for doing crap like this? Bet you can. Have a nice day.
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- I THINK THE TERRORISTS ARE FORCING US TO BANKRUPT OURSELVS
BY SPENDING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO CHASE FAKE OR BAD ATTACKS THAT HAVE NO CHANCE TO WORK - Reply to this comment
- Message: We must continue to spend trillions on defense, cut out social security, healthcare, education. People must not expect any minimum wage or expect to have the right to assemble in a labor union.
The plutocracy must be defended at any and all cost to the citizens of this nation which includes spending grossly excessive amounts of money.
It's like saying my next door neighbor threw a bubble gum wrapper on my lawn so I gotta spend $300.00 bucks on another gun. - Reply to this comment
- The sad part is companies like UPS disregard the Laws and right at this very moment have put packages on golf carts and open yard trailers to deliver in local neighborhoods where anyone can slip a package into the delivery system and have it delivered to any citizen, congressman or public official even though the law requires their regular delivery vehicles to have a secure and locked compartment so this wont happen.
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