A Pivotal Play

United States Customs and Border Protection Elevates Security by Utilizing Smartphones

Why is this a Pivotal Play?
National security and border protection is an important mission of the United States government. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is always looking for new and innovative ways to keep our nation secure from illegal aliens, drug trafficking, weapons, currency violators, and terrorists. In support of this mission, Nael Samha and Thomas Roland, Jr., Program Managers from the United States Customs and Border Protection agency (CBP), developed and deployed a secure application for smartphones that would allow patrols to run real time queries in from any location. Nael Samha states that his product helps "protect the nation by stopping people who are smuggling drugs, weapons, and engaged in money laundering." Since 2010, this product has successfully resulted in 450 criminal arrests.

John Wagner from CBP's Office of Field Operations states, "It gives us the ability to run database queries in locations where agents are not standing in front of desktop computers. It gives us the chance to be more reactive and to conduct more law enforcement operations outside traditional areas, and to increase the number of apprehensions and seizures." Screening individuals who enter and leave the United States is a vital part of national security efforts. This ground-breaking technology gives patrols the opportunity to be proactive rather than reactive when it comes to law enforcement.

Source: AOL Government