INIA's Position on Counter-Terrorism

Criminal Profiling in Transportation Centers as a Tool for Counter-Terrorism

Criminal profiling at major U.S. transportation centers (airports, train stations, bus stations) has been developing since 1976 and was initiated as a response to drug organizations utilizing our nations airports to facilitate their drug trafficking. Techniques were developed and continuously refined to identify passengers who were at risk of being involved in criminal activity. These anti-narcotics units have come to be referred to as " interdiction units". As of this date, there are at least 300 interdiction units operating in the United States. These interdiction units are comprised of multiple local, state and federal agencies and do not operate under any single direct authority.

Criminal profiling at transportation centers rests upon one simple premise: criminals (which includes terrorists) utilizing public transportation systems are forced, by virtue of the clandestine nature of their pursuits, to act and travel in ways that can be distinguished from the great mass of legitimate travelers. Fundamentally, it is a process of separating the "legitimate" passengers from those who may be involved in criminal activity. Well-trained and experienced officers, utilizing investigative techniques, have become very successful in this endeavor. These units developed a computer profile, which was adopted by the FAA as their "terrorist profile". This is the profile that is incorporated into the major airlines reservations systems.

While almost exclusively used by anti-drug units to identify potential drug couriers, these units have arrested thousands of criminals wanted for other serious crimes because they display the same travel characteristics and behavior. This applies to potential terrorists as well. The recent arrests by interdiction unit officers on the Amtrak train in Fort Worth and at JFK Airport in New York attest to this applicability. They were directly responsible for the apprehension of six individuals thought to be involved with those who recently carried out the despicable acts at the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.

The training, experience and expertise of these interdiction units should be utilized in any future law enforcement response to the security requirements of our national transportation systems. These units are in place, trained, familiar with transportation reservation systems, have an infrastructure of communications and a long-term working relationship with the employees of the various carriers.