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Washington, D.C. - Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) today heard testimony from officials at the Government Accountability Office (GAO), the Department of Homeland Security’s Nuclear Detection Office and U.S. Customs and Border Protection highlighting recent efforts to strengthen our ability to detect nuclear and radiological materials. In 2003 and 2004, Senator Collins joined three of her congressional colleagues in requesting that the GAO review current U.S. efforts to combat nuclear smuggling throughout the world. The hearing held today before the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations detailed the results of this study and afforded committee members and agency officials the opportunity to discuss recommendations for improvement. “Given current technology and the sheer volume of traffic, we cannot physically search every container without bringing trade to a standstill. The United States government cannot follow every container throughout its global journey, nor can it track every container and every piece of cargo along the roads, rails, and airways that bring them to ports. No one nation can secure the international supply chain,” said Senator Collins. “The deployment of radiation detection equipment overseas, at the borders of nations that are the most likely source of illicit nuclear materials, is a proactive investment in our national security.” According to the International Atomic Energy Agency, between 1993 and 2004, there were 662 confirmed cases of illicit trafficking in nuclear and radiological materials, and the number of reported cases has risen dramatically since 2002. Many of these cases involved material that could be used to produce a nuclear weapon or a dirty bomb. In response to this growing concern, the U.S. Departments of Energy, State and Defense have instituted programs that provide radiation detection equipment and related training to border security personnel and customs officials in 36 countries. At today’s hearing, GAO officials acknowledged that although these initiatives have resulted in the successful placement of multiple radiation portal monitors in several countries posing the greatest nuclear security threat, a number of challenges remain if we are to improve global radiation detection capabilities. “While progress has been made in deploying a global network to detect and interdict nuclear materials, today GAO officials detailed continuing challenges,” stated Senator Collins. “Clearly, in order to be effective, equipment deployed must be properly used. Reports of corrupt personnel at certain foreign border stations and ill-functioning equipment undermine the effectiveness of these programs. Today’s findings underscore the importance of enhancing our current technological capabilities and continuing to work with our foreign allies to ensure that we are successful in this mission of global significance.”