INFORMATION SHARING AND ANALYSIS CENTER (ISAAC)

• 15 pages
• For Official Use Only
• Law Enforcement Sensitive
• February 2010

Full-Body Scanners and ETD Technology Coming to Airports

The first of 150 full-body scanners planned for U.S. airports will begin to be installed next week. Three machines will be installed at Logan International Airport in Boston. In the next two weeks, officials plan to install another machine at Chicago’s O-Hare International. The rest of the 150 machines are expected to be installed in airports by the end of June. Currently, 40 full-body scanners are operated in 19 airports across the country.

Last February, it was announced that $1 billion had been provided for airport screening. In May, details of how that money would be spent included $25 million for new scanners. Following contract proposals, the contract was awarded to a California-based company, Rapiscan.

Boston and Chicago were selected for the first installs based on risk and whether the
airports were physically able to install the machines and provide screeners to operate them.

TSA has tested both millimeter wave and backscatter imaging technologies. The new
machines are backscatter units. Backscatter technology uses low level X-ray to create a twosided
image. TSA is testing backscatter with an algorithm applied to the entire image to further
protect passenger privacy.

TSA has also announced the expanded use of Explosive Trace Detection (ETD)
technology at airports nationwide as an additional layer of security. “Explosive Trace Detection
technology is a critical tool in our ability to stay ahead of evolving threats to aviation security,”
said TSA Acting Administrator Gale Rossides. “Expanding the use of this technology at
checkpoints and at departure gates greatly enhances security to keep the traveling public safe.”

Since the Christmas Day failed attack,TSA has increased its random use of ETD
technology within security checkpoints to screen passengers’ hands and carry-on luggage. In
addition, TSA piloted the use of ETD technology in both the checkpoint queue and boarding
areas for two weeks at Raleigh-Durham International Airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta
International Airport, Orlando International Airport, and Pitt-Greenville and Coastal Carolina
Regional Airports in North Carolina.

Passengers can now expect to see the increased random use of ETD technology in
areas where TSA currently conducts screening such as the security checkpoint, as well as in
the checkpoint queue, and boarding areas. Officers may swab a piece of luggage or
passengers’ hands, then use ETD technology to test for explosives. The swab is placed inside
the ETD unit which analyzes the content for the presence of potential explosive residue. To
ensure the health of travelers, screening swabs are disposed of after each use. Since it will be used on a random basis, passengers should not expect to see the same thing at every airport or
each time they travel.

…

Skype

Skype is a software application that allows users to make voice calls over the Internet.
Calls to other subscribers of the service are free, as well as to free-of-charge numbers in some
countries. Calls to other landlines and mobile phones can be made for a fee. Additional features
include instant messaging, file transfer and video conferencing.

Skype Communications has now established a Law
Enforcement Relationship Management (LERM) Team to ensure the
safe and responsible use of its communications platforms and to
encourage legal prosecution of those responsible for misconduct on
these platforms. LERM handles all inbound requests from law enforcement for records
concerning Skype users.

All relevant records are maintained by Skype Communications Sarl, a Luxembourg
corporation. Subpoenas must be sent to:
Skype Communications Sarl
Law Enforcement Relationship Management
22/24 Boulevard Royal,
L-2449 Luxembourg

Subpoenas may also be faxed to Skype LERM at +352.26.20.15.82 with a follow up
subpoena mailed to the above address.
In response to a subpoena or other court order, Skype will provide:
• Registration information provided at time of account registration
• E-mail address
• IP address at the time of registration
• Financial transactions conducted with Skype in the past year, although details of the
credit cards used are stored only by the billing provider used (for instance, Bibi, RBS or
Pay-Pal)
• Destination telephone numbers for any calls placed to the public switched telephone
network (PSTN)
• All service and account information, including any billing address(es) provided, IP
address (at each transaction), and complete transactional information.

Skype will not provide information without a subpoena.

…

VIPER
Strategic Technology Reserve (STR)

Strategic Technology Reserve (STR) is a term that has been adopted by the U.S.
Department of Homeland Security to describe deployable radio assets. This reserve can be
utilized to facilitate interoperability between local, county, state and federal entities as well as
non-governmental agencies in the case of an emergency or scheduled event. It is designed to
support command and control communications, as well as tactical functions in order to provide
an effective communications and interoperability solution. The North Carolina STR assets
consist of two primary components; Radio Equipment Trailers and Mobile Towers.

There are eight Radio Equipment Trailers, each with 80 portable radios. The 80 portable
radios are allocated as follows:

20 VHF High Band
20 UHF
20 700 – 800 MHz
20 Family Radio Service (FRS)

The radio caches are stored in self-contained, field-deployable storage containers which
include the necessary ancillary support equipment. Each radio cache has disposable and
rechargeable batteries for each radio plus equipment to recharge all batteries.

The radios on each frequency band are programmed to operate on the applicable EMS,
Fire-Rescue and Law Enforcement public safety radio systems throughout N.C. The Radio
Equipment Trailers are also equipped with the capability to program or reprogram cache radios
when necessary to meet unanticipated communication requirements. Each trailer also contains
tactical audio switches that permit interconnection of incompatible radio users and/or systems.

There are five Mobile Towers equipped with one conventional 800 MHz field
programmable repeater. Three of these towers contain five channel trunked radio systems.
Each mobile tower contains rack mounted gateway technology (ACU-1000) and mobile radios
on multiple frequency bands which are used to interconnect incompatible radio users and/or
systems to establish interoperability. Mobile Towers consist of 106’ radio towers which may be
utilized with antennas supporting conventional repeaters, control stations, or the trunked radio
systems.

…

These are some of the incidents that ISAAC has investigated during February.
• ISAAC received information that a subject had offered his step-daughter $4,000 to marry
his cousin in order for him to legally enter the U.S. The offer would include staying
married to him for 2 years in order for him to gain residency in the U.S. Investigation
continues.
• ISAAC received information regarding possible marriage fraud and the structuring of
money that was being sent to an overseas location. Investigation continues.
• ISAAC received information regarding a person who had inquired about purchasing a
1956 Cessna 132 airplane to be imported for a flying school in Karachi, Pakistan. The
information has been shared with DHS and the FBI.
• ALE provided information regarding a group of convenience stores that are owned by
foreign nationals that are involved in illegal drug use, receiving stolen property and
alcoholic beverage sales. Investigation continues.
• ISAAC was contacted regarding a convenience store employee who traveled overseas
in May or June of 2009 and has not returned. Investigation continues.
• The USDA provided information regarding two ABC licensed locations owned by foreign
nationals that are buying cigarettes being represented as stolen. They have also
expressed an interest in buying EBT cards. Previous activity has been reported in the
past concerning one of the subjects. Investigation continues.
• A concerned faculty member at a local university reported suspicious behavior regarding
another faculty member. Investigation continues.
• ISAAC was contacted regarding a highway interdiction in which a foreign national was
arrested for possession of the controlled substance, Khat. Following analysis by the SBI
crime lab, a warrant was issued on the subject for felonious possession with intent to sell
and deliver Khat.
• ISAAC was contacted by a local retail store regarding a subject who inquired with a
cashier about the purchase of black powder and fuses for a bomb. Investigation
continues.

Share this: