Global Security Newswire

Federal agencies have intercepted a "weapon of mass effect" entering the United States, San Diego's 10News last week quoted a U.S. Customs and Border Protection official as saying (see GSN, Feb. 11).

Asked if authorities have intercepted chemical agents or other weapons at U.S. ports, San Diego Assistant Port Director Al Hallor said: "At the airport, seaport, at our port of entry we have not this past fiscal year, but our partner agencies have found those things."

Asked if authorities look for radiological "dirty bombs" or nuclear weapons, he said: "Correct. Weapons of mass effect." Hallor then appeared to again confirm that such a device had been located at a U.S. point of entry.

The interview was brought to a halt before Hallor could elaborate. Customs and Border Protection later said in a statement it had "not specifically had any incidents with nuclear devices or nuclear materials at our ports of entry."

Hallor could likely have had undisclosed knowledge of an intercepted weapon, former Secret Service agent and airline security head Glen Winn said (10News, Feb. 9).