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