In the bustling lanes of global trade, each airfreight shipment navigates like a vessel through fog—carrying potential security risks beneath its surface. The World Customs Organization (WCO) has developed a solution to identify and mitigate these risks before goods reach their destinations.
New Zealand Leads Air Cargo Security Innovation
The New Zealand Customs Service (NZCS) is collaborating with the WCO to pilot test the air cargo capabilities of the newly enhanced Cargo Targeting System (CTS). Leveraging its expertise in risk assessment and pre-screening, NZCS will conduct comprehensive evaluations during a three-month trial period.
The pilot program commenced the week of October 10, 2016, with WCO representatives traveling to New Zealand to launch the initiative and train NZCS personnel. Findings from this evaluation will inform system upgrades before the enhanced CTS becomes available to all WCO members.
This expansion marks a significant milestone three years after the system's initial deployment for maritime container screening. The upgraded CTS now incorporates functionality for traditional air cargo and express shipments, with multiple WCO members already adopting the system and more expected to follow.
Building Global Trade Security Infrastructure
The WCO CTS represents a sophisticated risk assessment and pre-screening solution developed for customs administrations worldwide. The system enables implementing organizations to:
- Conduct comprehensive cargo manifest risk evaluations
- Identify potential security threats with precision
- Implement international best practices aligned with the SAFE Framework standards
- Optimize inspection resources through targeted examinations
The system's architecture integrates seamlessly with the WCO's SAFE Framework, the global standard for securing and facilitating international trade. This alignment ensures participating customs administrations maintain compliance with international security protocols while promoting trade efficiency.
Addressing Evolving Air Cargo Challenges
The air cargo capability expansion responds to growing security demands in the aviation sector. As global air freight volumes continue rising, traditional security methods have struggled to maintain pace with both threat evolution and operational throughput requirements.
By incorporating air cargo into its risk assessment parameters, the enhanced CTS provides customs authorities with advanced tools to:
- Improve inspection accuracy while reducing false positives
- Streamline clearance processes for low-risk shipments
- Enhance supply chain visibility and security coordination
The New Zealand pilot represents a critical step in validating the system's effectiveness for air cargo applications before global deployment. NZCS's operational experience will help refine algorithms and processes specific to aviation security challenges.
Global Network Development
Since its initial launch, WCO CTS has been implemented across multiple jurisdictions, forming the foundation for an interconnected global trade security network. The organization plans continued expansion in coming months to strengthen international cooperation against transnational security threats.
This network approach enables participating customs administrations to share risk indicators and best practices while maintaining sovereign control over screening decisions. The system's flexible architecture accommodates diverse operational environments and threat profiles across different regions.