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BORDER SECURITY REPORT VOLUME 14 FOR THE World’s border prOTECTION, MANAGEMENT AND SECURITY INDUSTRY MAY / JUNE 2019 POLICY-MAKERS AND PRACTITIONERS COVER STORY BREXIT WILL PUSH UK BORDERS TO THE BRINK… UNLESS WE GET SMARTER WITH data SPECIAL REPORT AGENCY NEWS SHORT REPORT INDUSTRY NEWS Border Threat Detection A global review of the South Asia: Case of Least Latest news, views and – The Path to Artificial latest news and challenges Connected Borders p.18 innovations from the Intelligence p.14 from border agencies and industry. p.30 agencies at the border. p.20 2 COMMENT contacts Every Cloud Has a Silver Lining Editorial: They say every cloud has a silver lining, when it comes to the movement of Tony Kingham but you would be hard pushed to goods, big questions remain. Such as; E: [email protected] convince anyone in the UK that the how does technology really help with Assistant Editor: Brexit cloud has one right now. Political the import and export of agricultural Neil Walker deadlock in parliament means we are goods and foodstuffs, which of course E: [email protected] no closer to a deal and the recent poor need inspections if regulations don’t showing by the established parties match. And no matter how much Design, Marketing & Production: in the European elections is likely to the UK spends on technology and Neil Walker result in a harder line from any future whatever systems it puts in place, to E: [email protected] Conservative Prime Minister, making a work effectively that technology and Subscriptions: hard Brexit much more likely. those systems have to be matched by Tony Kingham our trading partners in the other 27 Clearly a hard Brexit is in nobody’s E: [email protected] EU nations. There are benefits in being interest but in it lies just a possibility of able to utilise big data and AI, but not if a silver lining. Border Security Report is a bi-monthly you’re not receiving big data. electronic magazine and is the border But whatever version of Brexit there is, Hard or soft Brexit, what is certain, management industry magazine Britain will be forced to deliver on the is that there will be a cost to both delivering agency and industry news and seamless smart border of conservative developments, as well as more in-depth importers and exporters and ultimately Brexiteer dreams. features and analysis to over 20,000 to UK consumers and the UK economy. border agencies, agencies at the borders Now I’m not one of those that believes Certainly, in the short to medium term. and industry professionals, policymakers that we have the technology as Nobody knows if there will be long and practitioners, worldwide. Brexiteers claim, but I do believe that term economic benefits, but I have my necessity is the mother of invention doubts. and that given enough time and Only time will tell if the British public resources, there are enough existing think the obvious sovereignty benefits and emerging technologies, including are worth the price! AI, big data and biometrics, to make that aspiration a realistic goal, at least Later in this issue Matt Wiles of Leidos in part. UK looks at this issue in much more Copyright of KNM Media and Torch detail In fact, if any future UK government is Marketing. sensible, it could develop the blueprint Tony Kingham and technology for the border Editor management system of the future. Which expertise and technology is then exportable; so that’s the silver lining! But whilst I believe technology can deliver on READ THE FULL VERSION the movement of people, The digital version of Border Security Report contains all the additional articles and news listed in the contents page below. The full digital version is available for download at www.world-border-congress.com/BSR Border Security Report | May/June 2019 CONTENTS 3 CONTENTS BORDER SECURITY REPORT 4 Blitz on reptile smuggling nets great ABERDEEN results EDINBURGH GLASGOW The Australian arm of a three-week, international operation resulted in the seizure of 69 reptiles. BELFAST HULL 5 Brexit will push UK borders to the brink… MANCHESTER unless we get smarter with data EAST MIDLANDS FELIXSTOWE Matt Wiles, Chief Executive at Leidos UK explores one of the CARDIFF LONDON biggest issues posed by Brexit and the impact it will have on the DOVER SOUTHAMPTON UK’s borders.. » p.5 CALAIS 8 AGENCY REPORTS Latest news and reports reports from key agencies INTERPOL, OSCE, EUROPOL and the IOM. 14 Border Threat Detection – The Path to Artificial Intelligence Paul Hollingshead, Regional Director at Rapiscan Systems | AS&E reviews the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in scanning and automatic threat detection. 18 South Asia: Case of Least Connected » p.29 » p.14 Borders Manoj Kumar, Second in Command, STC Chakur, India looks at how borders of South Asia have evolved. 20 AGENCY NEWS A global review of the latest news, views, stories, challenges and issues from border agencies and agencies at the border. 26 World Border Security Congress A look at the annual international border security gathering being hosted in Athens, Greece on March 31st-2nd April 2020. » p.20 30 industry news Latest news, views and innovations from the industry. Border Security Report | May/June 2019 4 SHORT REPORT Blitz on reptile smuggling nets great results The Australian arm of a three-week, international groups to raise awareness and encourage reporting of operation targeting the illegal trade of reptiles, involving suspicious behaviour. surprise raids, compliance inspections and random airport Victoria’s Department of Environment, Land, Water checks, resulted in the seizure of 69 reptiles. and Planning (DELWP) are committed to tackling the Australia and 13 other INTERPOL-member countries illegal wildlife trade head on. This involves swift action participated in Operation Blizzard, an INTERPOL- on identified illegal exports or proactive inspections coordinated campaign to increase enforcement and of licenced collections. As part of Operation Blizzard, surveillance activities around suspicious reptile trading. DELWP focused on inspections of commercial and private The operation ran from 22 April to 12 May. licence holders to ensure the legal trade in Victoria is monitored appropriately. Wildlife authorities executed seven search warrants against suspected illegal traders across Australia, and DELWP continue their investigations, working conducted 51 wildlife compliance inspections, resulting in collaboratively with other agencies, into five unsolved 17 detections of non-compliance. cases, where 12 live lizards were posted to China late last year. The suspects have been captured on CCTV, but to Operation Blizzard was coordinated by the Department date have not been identified. of the Environment and Energy’s Office of Compliance. The operation involved the Australian Border Force, the At Melbourne airport, Australian Border Force (ABF) Department of Agriculture and Water Resources, and officers arrested a 27-year-old Japanese national with environmental agencies from every state and territory in 17 shinglebacks and two blue-tongued lizards concealed Australia joining forces to combat wildlife trafficking at a in her checked-in luggage. The woman is suspected national level. of being involved in an international wildlife trafficking syndicate. The animals were seized and are currently The Department of the Environment and Energy’s Chief being cared for by DELWP. Compliance Officer, Monica Collins, said, “Operation Blizzard shows what can be achieved when our federal, ABF Superintendent Operations Andrew Dawson said state and territory agencies work collaboratively to disrupt the ABF will continue to work closely with our partner wildlife crime. Officers from all agencies are working agencies to share intelligence to identify and prevent tirelessly to thwart this illicit trade.” attempts to illegally export native Australian wildlife. In Tasmania, wildlife rangers from the Department of “This is an incredibly cruel trade and the ABF will continue Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment to do whatever we can to stop it,” said Superintendent executed two search warrants, seizing 25 live and dead Dawson. “Operation Blizzard was an excellent example animals, including a large carpet python. of what can be achieved when state and federal agencies come together to protect our native Australian wildlife.” The Queensland Police Major and Organised Crime Squad (Rural) worked closely with Queensland Parks and In Western Australia, wildlife officers conducted thirteen Wildlife Service to jointly tackle reptile crime throughout inspections and attended a WA Police warrant. Officers the state. Queensland authorities executed five search from the Western Australia Parks and Wildlife Service warrants resulting in the seizure of 13 animals. seized two live pythons and a bearded dragon that was successfully returned to the wild. Officers issued two “This operation has sent a clear message that the infringement notices totalling $5000. Queensland Government has a zero tolerance approach to the illegal trade of wildlife. We take this type of crime The Department of Agriculture and Water Resources very seriously and we will continue to work in conjunction is investigating the detection of nine live turtles in an with federal authorities beyond the conclusion of this international mail parcel imported from Hong Kong. operation”, said a Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service “Illegal reptile imports pose a significant biosecurity spokesperson. risk, as they could introduce pests