Pubdate: Mon, 20 May 2002
Source: Denver Rocky Mountain News (CO)
Copyright: 2002, Denver Publishing Co.
Contact:  http://www.rockymountainnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/371
Webpage: 
www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/home/article/0,1299,DRMN_1_1158881,00.html

SYSTEM THAT WILL SCAN RAILCARS IS NEARING COMPLETION

BROWNSVILLE, Texas- A $1.3 million system to allow federal agents to scan 
railcars to check for narcotics and materials harmful to the public is 
expected to be completed by the end of the month on the international 
bridge between Brownsville and Matamoras, Mexico.

"It's like another set of eyes," U.S. Customs spokesman Rick Pauza said 
Monday. "It can detect chemicals and weapons of mass destruction."

The Vehicle and Cargo Inspection System, known as VACIS, will use gamma 
rays to scan railcars passing through the bridge and is similar to a system 
used to scan tractor-trailers.

"It can scan the railcars for narcotics and anything harmful for the people 
in the United States," Pauza was quoted in a story in The Brownsville 
Herald on Tuesday.

The system is expected to cut travel time for trains crossing the border 
between the United States and Mexico. A similar system is being built on 
the Mexican side of the bridge.

Now, inspectors use drug-sniffing dogs and hand-held density meters to 
monitor cross-border traffic.

"This is some of the latest technology that we're using to help further our 
anti-terrorism measures and also to seize narcotics," Pauza said.

A similar system is in place in Laredo. Officials pointed to the removal in 
March of nearly 2,000 pounds of marijuana from inside a railcar arriving 
from Mexico.

"This was an excellent seizure," said David Higgerson, acting U.S. Customs 
port director in Laredo. "A combination of high technology and good 
inspector work resulted in the first major seizure of marijuana we have 
seen in rail (cars) in Laredo in recent years."

"It (VICAS) will inspect trains that come and go into each country more 
efficiently and more effectively," said Jose F. Galvan, president and CEO 
for B&M International Bridge. "It means the train should move faster 
because they aren't going to open the cars."

"The machine is supposed to do tankers, railcars and auto racks. It will be 
able to see right through them. This is really good."

Information from: Brownwood Bulletin
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MAP posted-by: Beth