Security breaches at key U.S. ports

[kpete]

Criminal Records, Bogus Licenses Among Truckers at Key U.S. Port
Thousands of Port Truckers Go Unscreened, Yet Many Have Criminal Records

WASHINGTON, March 7, 2006 — - In Washington today, House Republicans vowed to defy President Bush's effort to have a Dubai company take over six major U.S. ports. But ABC News has learned about a port threat from within -- a major security breach at the ports of New York and New Jersey.

The two ports handle millions of tons of cargo, with scores of cruise ships passing through each year. Truckers who transport much of the cargo are issued ID cards, which give them access to all areas of the port.

ABC News has learned that the cards, given to thousands of truckers by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, were issued with virtually no background checks. The Department of Homeland Security recently investigated the New York and New Jersey ports, and found stunning gaps in security.

The new DHS report, obtained by ABC News, shows that of the 9,000 truckers checked, nearly half had evidence of criminal records. More than 500 held bogus driver's licenses, leaving officials unsure of their real identities.

"We have no idea who's in the ports. And many of the folks who come in to service the ports, that drive the trucks back and forth, are people who don't have very distinguished backgrounds. May have criminal backgrounds," said Stephen Flynn, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, a nonpartisan think tank.

The intelligence report found truck drivers had been convicted of homicide, assault, weapons charges, sex offenses, arson, drug dealing, identity theft and cargo theft.

According to the report, a review of incident logs involving truck drivers at the Newark Seaport in late 2005 revealed one who was identified as an MS-13 gang member. MS-13 has been described as one of the most dangerous gangs in the United States. The logs also highlighted an incident involving "four cabs without containers exited the terminal without stopping at the red light and ignored verbal commands to stop."

more at:

http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/print?id=1697607

[Viva_La_Revolution]

1. Doesn't surprise me

There were a few times I borrowed one of our contract truckers port # to get my driver in for a pickup because we weren't certified. He just had to say he worked for him instead of us, it's not like they ask to see any proof.

[Roland99]

2. See? There's proof DP World will be better at port security

:sarcasm:

[Coastie for Truth]

4. Sharia

With amputations and beheadings. See my append about Marlon Brando's "On The Waterfront" and Victor Riesel.

I worked the Tchopitolous Street Docks in New Orleans.

:sarcasm:

[Coastie for Truth]

3. Shades of the 1950's

The Kefauver Committee, and Marlon Brando's "On The Waterfront" and the blinding of newspaper reporter Victor Riesel.

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