7 

 

Follow-up Review on Recommendations 

from Audit of Procedures to Detect Uranium 

in Two Smuggling Incidents

Unclassified Summary 

Office of Inspector General 

U.S. Department of Homeland Security 

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY 

Office of Inspector General 

OIG-07-30 February 2007 
Office of Inspector General 

U.S. Department of Homeland Security 

Washington, DC 20528

Follow-up Review on Recommendations from Audit of Procedures to 

Detect Uranium in Two Smuggling Incidents 

Unclassified Summary 

(OIG-07-30) 

_________________________________________________________________________________ 

 

In September 2004, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) 

issued an audit report titled, Effectiveness of Customs and Border Protection’s Procedures to Detect 

Uranium in Two Smuggling Incidents (OIG-04-39). This audit report made four recommendations to 

enhance the training and search procedures followed by Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) 

inspectors as well as the effectiveness of the radiation detection equipment. The Chairmen and 

Ranking Members of four House and Senate Committees requested the OIG to determine the status 

of CBP’s implementation of the recommendations. 

CBP is making progress in implementing the recommendations by continuing to improve its 

container examination process and radiation portal monitor operations. Specifically, it has revised its 

container inspection training; installed software enhancements in Radiation Portal Monitors; is 

working with the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office and DHS’ Science and Technology Directorate 

officials and the Department of Energy scientists to improve the detection capability of radiation 

portal monitors by evaluating the next generation of these monitors. Also, CBP continues to assess 

the impact of radiation portal monitor software enhancements and the ability of the next generation 

of these monitors to identify the radioisotopes that trigger alarms. CBP believes that these 

technologies will increase the effectiveness of monitoring while reducing the burden that increased 

equipment sensitivity levels places on its resources and the trade. 

CBP’s improvements to the container inspection process and radiation detection equipment 

capabilities should continue to improve, as its officers become more experienced and new 

technologies are incorporated into detection equipment. CBP’s actions in response to the four 

recommendations made in the initial report are adequate and we consider these recommendations 

resolved and closed. 
 

Additional Information and Copies 

To obtain additional copies of this report, call the Office of Inspector General 

(OIG) at (202) 254-4100, fax your request to (202) 254-4285, or visit the OIG 

web site at www.dhs.gov.

OIG Hotline 

To report alleged fraud, waste, abuse or mismanagement, or any other kind 

of criminal or noncriminal misconduct relative to department programs or 

operations, call the OIG Hotline at 1-800-323-8603; write to Department of 

Homeland Security, Washington, DC 20528, Attn: Office of Inspector 

General, Investigations Division – Hotline. The OIG seeks to protect the 

identity of each writer and caller.