9 Indicted Re: Alleged Mass Smuggling Scheme at LA/Long Beach Ports

9 Indicted Re: Alleged Mass Smuggling Scheme at LA/Long Beach Ports

Nine people, ranging from logistics executives and warehouse owners to truckers, have been named in a federal indictment involving an alleged wide-scale scheme to smuggle millions of dollars’ worth of fake goods from China through the Los Angeles and Long Beach seaports, the U.S. Justice Department said Jan. 27. The 15-count federal indictment, which was unsealed Jan. 24, charges nine people with “conspiracy, smuggling and breaking customs seals” from at least August 2023 to June 2024, according to the Justice Department. The agency asserts that the nine people shifted cargo containers from China for “off-site secondary inspection” and swapped the…
Read More
Port of Redwood City Nets $1.5 Million Grant for Anti-Terrorism Security Measures

Port of Redwood City Nets $1.5 Million Grant for Anti-Terrorism Security Measures

The Port of Redwood City has been awarded a $1.5 million grant by the Department of Homeland Security to enhance anti-terrorism security efforts, the Northern California seaport announced Dec. 3. The money from the DHS’ Port Security Grant Program is expected to fund port and first responder training, a 36-foot law enforcement patrol boat, the installation of enhanced security equipment and emergency notifications system, as well as an assessment of cybersecurity infrastructure pain points and ways to better protect against vulnerabilities. “As a designated federal staging area by FEMA, protecting our port from terrorism requires continual advancements in surveillance and…
Read More
DHS Honors San Diego, Seattle Employees

DHS Honors San Diego, Seattle Employees

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security recently hosted awards ceremonies at Coast Guard Sector San Diego and Coast Guard Base Seattle to spotlight the contributions of nearly three dozen employees. Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security John K. Tien was in Seattle on Thursday, April 28 to honor eight employees and in San Diego on Friday to honor 24 employees with the Secretary’s Award. Recipients included Coast Guardsmen, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and Customs and Border Protection agents. The DHS Secretary’s Award is given annually to highlight outstanding achievement in the workforce. The employees honored in Seattle and San Diego…
Read More