Customs and Border Protection officers interrupt alien smuggling incidents in Rio Grande Valley Sector
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reported Wednesday that CBP officers in the Rio Grande Valley Sector interrupted four alien smuggling attempts this past weekend, which resulted in failures to yield to law enforcement authorities. “Transnational criminal organizations continue to... Read More »
Lockheed Martin awarded contract to develop low-cost, subsonic cruise missile
The U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory awarded Lockheed Martin a $110 million contract on Wednesday to develop a low-cost, subsonic cruise missile with swarming capabilities, known as the Gray Wolf. Lockheed Martin was awarded a five-year, phase 1 contract to develop and demonstrate the Gray... Read More »
Bill reauthorizing grant programs for local fire, rescue departments heads to President’s desk
The Assistance to Firefighters (AFG) and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant programs will be reauthorized through fiscal year 2023 under a bill that the U.S. Senate recently approved. The Fire Grants Reauthorization Act would ensure that the nation’s fire and... Read More »
Michigan delegation pushes for Fort Custer to be named midcourse missile defense site
Members of Michigan’s congressional delegation recently advocated for the Missile Defense Agency to name the Michigan National Guard Fort Custer Training Center in Augusta as a ground-based midcourse missile defense site. The lawmakers made the plea in a letter to U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen.... Read More »
Major US cities sue Defense Department over gun background check reporting failures
San Francisco, New York, and Philadelphia filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday against the Department of Defense (DoD) for its failure to report dishonorable discharges and criminal conviction information to the national criminal background check system for gun sales. The military is required to... Read More »
WSU students develop new technology in support of National Nuclear Security Administration’s nonproliferation mission
Washington State University (WSU) students taking part in a National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) internship program that promotes the development of equipment for nonproliferation research and training recently developed new technology that addresses safeguards research engineering... Read More »
ICE deports former drug-trafficking leader to face charges in Colombia
A former leader of the Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia drug-trafficking ring was deported to Columbia on Tuesday after spending eight years in federal custody for conspiracy to import and distribute cocaine in the United States. Hebert Veloza Garcia, 50, was deported to his native Columbia to... Read More »
Dark web gun sellers make illegal firearms sales to undercover GAO agents
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) made two firearms purchases on the dark web without disclosing required background information during a recent review of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) ability to regulate online firearm sales. The GAO review was... Read More »
Senators encourage bill giving CBP additional resources to stop flow of fentanyl
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) would have more access to portable chemical screening devices to stem the flow of fentanyl across the nation’s borders under a bill that recently gained Senate approval. The International Narcotics Trafficking Emergency Response by Detecting Incoming... Read More »
NIAID report establishes push toward Zika prevention, remaining questions
Though scientists have been working steadily toward understanding and prevention of Zika since 2016, a recent report published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases makes it clear that many questions remain. For one thing, scientists cannot yet say that another Zika pandemic will not re-emerge,... Read More »GAO finds TSA successfully enhanced oversight of other transaction agreements
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) awarded 1,039 other transaction agreements (OTAs) from 2012 to 2016 and improved oversight of those agreements over that time, according to a recent Government Accountability Office (GAO) review. OTAs are not subject to federal contract laws.... Read More »
CBP enforcement program has led to the seizure of thousands of pounds of cocaine along Miami River
As part of an enforcement program aiming to disrupt illicit trafficking along the Miami River, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers have seized thousands of pounds of cocaine and six vessels over the last three years, CBP said in a recent press release. This summer, CBP officers... Read More »
OPCW completes first training course for analytical chemists working in customs services
Ten analytical chemists who work in laboratories that support or have plans to support customs services around the world recently completed an Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) training course in the Netherlands. The inaugural training course, which was held from Dec.... Read More »
Senators introduce bill to enhance election security
A bipartisan group of U.S. Senators recently introduced a bill to improve election security and protect against foreign interference in U.S. elections. U.S. Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME), James Lankford (R-OK), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Kamala Harris (D-CA), Martin Heinrich (D-NM) and Lindsey Graham... Read More »