The Canada Border Services Agency says it has intercepted more than a dozen marine containers from Asia that have tested positive for low levels of man-made radiation at two Canadian ports over the past two months.
The first container contaminated with Cobalt-60 was identified at the Port of Vancouver on Oct. 3 according to the CBSA. Since then, 19 marine containers contaminated with Cobalt-60 have been intercepted and detained at the Port of Vancouver and Port of Prince Rupert.
“Through the use of radiation detection equipment and the efforts of CBSA officers, the presence of goods contaminated with the radioactive isotope Cobalt-60 were identified and detained,” Canadian Minister of Public Safety Vic Toews said in a statement.
Cobalt-60 is a synthetic radioactive isotope used to sterilize medical equipment and also has various uses in laboratories. Cobalt-60 is known to cause cancer in people exposed to it for a lengthy period of time.
Radiation detectors were first installed at the Port of Vancouver by the federal government in 2007, and can scan up to 100 percent of incoming and outgoing containers.
The government increased radiation monitoring at the port in early 2010 over fears that terrorists could try to sneak a nuclear device into the country to detonate during that year’s Winter Olympics.
Showing posts with label Port of Vancouver Canada. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Port of Vancouver Canada. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Smuggling Ring Busted in Vancouver
An organized crime ring that allegedly conspired to ship counterfeit cigarettes and ingredients to make illegal drugs to the Port of Vancouver, Canada from Asia has been shut down, British Columbia police say.
During the course of a two-year investigation, which ended in early November, 11 containers were seized, seven in Vancouver and four in Toronto, containing a total of 583,600 cartons of cigarettes and 6,270 kilograms of the liquid chemical phenyl-2-propanone, which can be used as an ingredient in the manufacture of methamphetamines, authorities say.
In late October, eight people were arrested on smuggling and conspiracy charges as part of the investigation. A handful more are still being sought, including two Vancouver-area residents.
The investigation began in 2009 after the Canada Border Services Agency intercepted a container at the Port of Vancouver containing unstamped counterfeit cigarettes destined for Toronto.
After the CBSA shared the information with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the two agencies then worked with other Canadian and international agencies to identify and shut down the responsible parties.
During the course of a two-year investigation, which ended in early November, 11 containers were seized, seven in Vancouver and four in Toronto, containing a total of 583,600 cartons of cigarettes and 6,270 kilograms of the liquid chemical phenyl-2-propanone, which can be used as an ingredient in the manufacture of methamphetamines, authorities say.
In late October, eight people were arrested on smuggling and conspiracy charges as part of the investigation. A handful more are still being sought, including two Vancouver-area residents.
The investigation began in 2009 after the Canada Border Services Agency intercepted a container at the Port of Vancouver containing unstamped counterfeit cigarettes destined for Toronto.
After the CBSA shared the information with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the two agencies then worked with other Canadian and international agencies to identify and shut down the responsible parties.
Monday, October 26, 2009
September Cargo Volumes Drop at Five of Six Major West Coast Ports
Monthly container volumes for the month of September show drops at five of six major West Coast ports, with the only glimmer of positive news coming from a small uptick in volumes at the Port of Seattle.
The six ports, which combined handle more than 90 percent of all containerized traffic on the West Coast, each remain down by double-digit percentages for the collective January to September period.
Container volume numbers are typically released two to three weeks after the end of the reporting month.
In Southern California, the Port of Long Beach reported a 20.6 percent drop in total monthly box volumes, falling to 554,837 TEUs in September compared to the year-ago period. The Long Beach port's total volumes for the year are off a cumulative 24.6 percent compared to the January to September period last year.
The adjacent Port of Los Angeles shed nearly 110,000 TEUs, or 15.78 percent, during September 2009 compared to the year-ago period to record a total monthly volume of 583,557 TEUs. The Los Angeles port's total container volumes have dropped 16.28 percent since January compared to the first nine months of 2008.
In Northern California, the Port of Oakland's total monthly container volumes fell 3.7 percent compared to September 2008, ending the month with a total of 182,000 TEUs handled. The Bay Area port is off 11.6 percent in total box volume for the year compared to the January to September period a year ago.
In Washington State, the Port of Seattle, the one positive note of the major West Coast ports, saw a 4.8 percent uptick in monthly container volumes. Seattle's total box volumes grew just over 6,000 TEUs compared to September last year. Despite the positive numbers for September, Seattle's year-to-date total container numbers are down 14.2 percent compared to the January to September period last year.
Across the Sound, the Port of Tacoma reported a 17.4 percent drop in total monthly container volumes, shedding nearly 31,000 TEUs compared to September 2008. The port ended the month with a total of 146,403 TEUs handled. Tacoma's total container volumes through September have slid 15.6 percent compared to the first nine months of 2008.
The Canadian Port of Vancouver saw total monthly container volumes during September drop 19.1 percent over September 2008, shedding 43,630 TEUs to end the month with a total of 184,559 TEUs handled. Vancouver's year-to-date volumes are down 15.2 percent compared to the same January to September period last year.
The six ports, which combined handle more than 90 percent of all containerized traffic on the West Coast, each remain down by double-digit percentages for the collective January to September period.
Container volume numbers are typically released two to three weeks after the end of the reporting month.
In Southern California, the Port of Long Beach reported a 20.6 percent drop in total monthly box volumes, falling to 554,837 TEUs in September compared to the year-ago period. The Long Beach port's total volumes for the year are off a cumulative 24.6 percent compared to the January to September period last year.
The adjacent Port of Los Angeles shed nearly 110,000 TEUs, or 15.78 percent, during September 2009 compared to the year-ago period to record a total monthly volume of 583,557 TEUs. The Los Angeles port's total container volumes have dropped 16.28 percent since January compared to the first nine months of 2008.
In Northern California, the Port of Oakland's total monthly container volumes fell 3.7 percent compared to September 2008, ending the month with a total of 182,000 TEUs handled. The Bay Area port is off 11.6 percent in total box volume for the year compared to the January to September period a year ago.
In Washington State, the Port of Seattle, the one positive note of the major West Coast ports, saw a 4.8 percent uptick in monthly container volumes. Seattle's total box volumes grew just over 6,000 TEUs compared to September last year. Despite the positive numbers for September, Seattle's year-to-date total container numbers are down 14.2 percent compared to the January to September period last year.
Across the Sound, the Port of Tacoma reported a 17.4 percent drop in total monthly container volumes, shedding nearly 31,000 TEUs compared to September 2008. The port ended the month with a total of 146,403 TEUs handled. Tacoma's total container volumes through September have slid 15.6 percent compared to the first nine months of 2008.
The Canadian Port of Vancouver saw total monthly container volumes during September drop 19.1 percent over September 2008, shedding 43,630 TEUs to end the month with a total of 184,559 TEUs handled. Vancouver's year-to-date volumes are down 15.2 percent compared to the same January to September period last year.
