Customs and Border Protection Partners with Air Carriers to Help Spot Fraudulent Documents

Press release from Washington regarding U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Carrier Liaison Program Offers Valuable Training Tools for Airline Partners.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced that 15,000 airline personnel have now been trained through its Carrier Liaison Program, with 5,665 carrier personnel trained in fiscal year 2008 alone.

The Carrier Liaison Program was established in 2006 to enhance security by increasing carrier effectiveness in identifying improperly documented passengers destined for the United States. CBP’s trainers engage in hands-on instruction in fraudulent document identification, passenger assessment, impostor recognition, and travel document verification.

CBP has developed a training program specifically for the air carriers which includes a detailed workbook and sample travel document which allows participants to examine dozens of common security features. Benefits include reduced numbers of improperly documented individuals boarding aircraft destined for the U.S., as well as assisting carriers to reduce costs and penalties associated with boarding impostors or improperly documented passengers.

During fiscal year 2008, there were 5,665 carrier personnel trained during 124 missions in 30 countries throughout Europe, Asia, South America, and the Caribbean. There were two training missions to China, both prior to and following the summer Olympics. More than 1,100 airline and government officials received training in the cities of Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou. First-time missions this past year included Moscow, Jakarta, Bali, Helsinki, and the Fiji Islands. For the current fiscal year, it is the goal of CLP to train airline personnel in 35 countries.

“One of our missions is to secure and facilitate legitimate travel into the United States,” said Assistant Commissioner Thomas Winkowski. “Through this program, we are able to provide training to airlines and associations to help identify counterfeit travel documents and establish ongoing information-sharing opportunities, all while expediting travel.”

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation’s borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.