CBP, HSI Increase Counterfeit Seizures, Say DHS Officials
Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and CBP collaborated to seize more than $1.7 billion in counterfeit goods in Fiscal Year 2013 (FY13) by expected retail value, said CBP Acting Deputy Commissioner Kevin McAleenan and Immigration and Customs Enforcement Deputy Director Daniel Ragsdale in joint testimony before Congress on April 8. The more than 24,000 seizures of goods that violated intellectual property rights marked a 38 percent increase in value from FY12, said the testimony. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Intellectual Property Rights Center also received 8,529 new leads in FY13, more than five times the number of leads in FY12, said the testimony.
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“Additionally, CBP agriculture specialists conducted approximately 1.6 million interceptions of prohibited plant materials, meat, and animal by-products at POEs while also stopping more than 160,000 potentially dangerous pests,” said the testimony. “Providing critical aerial and maritime domain awareness, in FY 2013, Air and Marine operations contributed to the seizure of more than 1.1 million pounds of narcotics and the apprehension of 63,000 individuals involved in illicit activities.” McAleenan and Ragsdale delivered the testimony to the House Committee on Homeland Security Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security.
HSI also investigates broad financial crimes, including money laundering and cash smuggling, as well as arms proliferation. “In addition to these financial investigations, ICE is one of the leading agencies in the U.S. Government’s efforts to prevent foreign adversaries from illegally obtaining U.S. military products and sensitive technology, including weapons of mass destruction and their components. HSI’s Counter-Proliferation Investigations Program (CPI), part of the HIS National Security Investigations Division, oversees a broad range of investigations related to export law violations,” said the testimony. "CPI targets the trafficking and/or illegal export of conventional military equipment, firearms, controlled dual use equipment and technology, materials used to manufacture weapons of mass destruction, including chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear materials.”
Congress should pass The United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Authorization Act, HR-3846 (here), and The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Authorization Act, H.R. 4279 (here), said the testimony. “The bills modernize and clarify current statute, specifically the Homeland Security Act of 2002, to remove references and authorities granted to organizations that no longer exist and entrusts them respectively, to the Commissioner of CBP and the Director of ICE,” said the testimony. “CBP and ICE support the intent of H.R. 3846 and H.R. 4279, and the committee’s effort to authorize a modern day CBP and ICE and their critical security functions.” Subcommittee Chairwoman Candice Miller, R-Mich., introduced both pieces of legislation.
The White House's planned additional funding for CBP officers in its FY15 budget proposal will also critically help CBP operations, said President Colleen Kelley of the National Treasury Employees Union in submitted written testimony. Congress should ensure appropriations legislation incorporates several DHS user fees, however, said Kelley (see 14031411). “Despite an enacted increase in appropriated funding in fiscal 2014 and 2105 for an additional 2,000 CBP Officers,” Kelley said, “CBP will still face staffing shortages in fiscal 2015 and beyond.” She added: “If Congress is serious about job creation, then Congress should support enactment of legislation that increases [user fees] by $2 each and adjusts those fees annually to inflation.”