Jonathan Hall Uncovers: Shore Security

More than a million tons of cargo land in Boston’s busy port every year and every piece has to be checked out!

Steven Farquharson, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Director of Field Operations

"There will never be a container that leaves here from this yard that has not been thoroughly screened."

7News was granted exclusive behind the scenes access at the port of Boston to see how these screening procedures keep us secure.

Agents say the first step is pre-screening.

Steven Farquharson, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Director of Field Operations

"Looking for specific pieces of information to determine that something isn't right and that container needs to be more looked at."

In addition, each and every bit of cargo is checked for radiation, using hi-tech machines.

Jonathan Hall, 7News

"Are you looking for weapons?"

Steven Farquharson, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Director of Field Operations

"We’re looking for radioactive material, weapons of mass destruction, anything that would cause significant harm to the public."

When cargo is considered suspicious, officials use this mobile x-ray machine. It can potentially uncover counterfeit goods or other more dangerous contraband.

X-Ray Truck Operator

"We can zero in on any part of the truck we want."

Our cameras caught agents checking out this truck load of fish. It got the go ahead, but another scan raised cause for concern.

See that dark line in the x-ray, right in the middle of a shipment of toys? Screeners say that's a red flag for possible contraband or counterfeit products.

Ted Woo, U.S. Customs and Border Protection

"So we have to open the container to make sure that we know what it is."

Customs agents quickly unpack the boxes to investigate.

Ted Woo, U.S. Customs and Border Protection

"It could be weapons of mass effect, it could be drugs. It could be counterfeit goods."

This time, a false alarm, but that's not always the case!

This ship just came in from Panama. It’s got 3000 containers, and most of the goods are completely legal. But in early July, a ship came in here to Boston, and on board were two containers full of counterfeit perfume.

Ted Woo, U.S. Customs and Border Protection

"There were some misspellings of words and it said made in Paris, France but the ship was coming in from China."

Those perfume importers now face criminal charges.

It’s estimated counterfeit goods cost American businesses up to $250 billion a year, and can cost American workers three quarters of a million jobs.

The agents we met with say that price is way too high.

Ted Woo, U.S. Customs and Border Protection

"We’re like the first and last line of defense before things get into the economy."

And they say the fight is on at our ports to put the counterfeiters out of business and keep our shores safe.

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