Nonproliferation Office

Export Control and Border Security Program

What is it and what are its goals?

The Export Control and Border Security (EXBS) Program is a cooperative effort between the U.S. Department of State, Department of Defense and U.S. Customs, designed to provide assistance to government agencies involved in border security and investigations relating to the prevention of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. The goal of the program is to assist government agencies to increase their efforts to inspect, interdict, investigate and prosecute the illegal procurement and movement of weapons of mass destruction and strategic technology.

Why is this program considered necessary?

Threats from the proliferation of nuclear, biological and chemical weapons and strategic technology come from states and non-state groups, such as terrorists. The illegal acquisition of weapons of mass destruction, munitions, and strategic technology threatens the peaceful existence of all nations. Nothing could be more central to U.S. and world security than ensuring that weapons of mass destruction do not fall into the hands of terrorists or proliferating states.

How has the program been implemented?

Since the demise of the Soviet Union, the U.S. Department of State, Department of Defense, U.S. Customs Service, and other agencies, have undertaken a program designed to cooperate with the former Soviet states to address the issues of border security and nonproliferation of weapons of mass destruction. EXBS Advisors assigned to the Nonproliferation Office of the U.S. Embassy Riga work closely with border enforcement agencies, law enforcement personnel, prosecutors, and import/export licensing authorities to assist in strengthening their efforts to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, strategic goods and the materials used in their manufacture.

The Nonproliferation Office is staffed with three Advisors, who have extensive criminal investigative experience. The EXBS Advisors from the Nonproliferation Office have provided training, equipment, and technical assistance to the agencies involved in nonproliferation. The implementation of this program has followed a basic strategy of providing the resources necessary to reduce the security hazards posed by the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. By implementing this program the U.S. Government has taken a major step toward reducing the threat of weapons of mass destruction finding their way into the hands of terrorists or proliferating states. The U.S. Customs Service plays an important role in export enforcement.
For more information on the U.S. Customs Service's role in export enforcement go to the U.S. Customs web site at www.customs.ustreas.gov.