The hideout
In a nondescript government building in Chicago, in an office formerly occupied by the legendary Elliot Ness, the group of women and men from the multiple law enforcement agencies that comprise CABINET coordinate global intelligence. It is here that their efforts translate into significant narcotics seizures in the U.S. Run by Customs under the Intelligence Division, CABINET functions in a truly non-parochial manner, and the benefits of this non-partisan approach belong to law enforcement organizations throughout the United States.

CABINET's multi-agency effort paid off significantly in the successful Operation Kids for Cover. Research conducted by the CABINET UK representative and CABINET inspectors identified Jamaican groups using children to cover their drug trafficking activity between Panama, the U.S., and the UK. CABINET personnel created lookouts and intelligence reports to subvert the operation.

The RAIC/O'Hare investigation of this operation has netted 54 individuals, all charged with narcotics violations. Senior Special Agent (SSA) Pete Darling, RAIC/O'Hare case agent, told CABINET Director Eileen Farrell, "The case is what it is today due to the hard work of the CABINET staff, particularly Senior Customs Inspector Scott Hegerich and Senior Officer (Investigations) for Her Majesty's Customs and Excise Mark Bishop. The outstanding CABINET work provided travel and passport records on the subjects as well as incredible intelligence from British Customs, which greatly contributed to these indictments."

Intelligence at its best
Never was the need for CABINET's timely researched information more apparent than after the terrorist attacks of September 11. Immediately after the attacks, Hegerich identified a primary aeronautics school in Oklahoma where some of the hijackers had obtained their pilot training. Hegerich also discovered that six other residents of Saudi Arabia had traveled to the same location.

CABINET team members uncovered travel histories, addresses, and other pertinent data on the terrorist suspects and their associates. They provided numerous investigative leads to federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies as well as to enforcement agencies overseas. From September 11 through December 31, 2001, CABINET staff researched a total of 1,443 terrorist related names. The FBI told the Intelligence Watch at Customs headquarters that they were thrilled with the critical leads CABINET provided.

The key to CABINET's success is not based solely on the use of the databases but on the free flow of ideas, exchange of information, and daily interaction between the domestic and international law enforcement agencies that participate in the CABINET effort. In a recent example, information provided by the CABINET UK representative to O'Hare Passenger Analyst Unit inspectors resulted in the seizure of 600 grams of heroin the very next day. The Chicago Port Director Robyn Dessaure stated, "That is the type of intelligence we need."

The information that the members of CABINET programmed into their automated database has now been incorporated into a national database to better serve global enforcement.

CABINET-Your window to the world In fiscal year 2001, CABINET was cited with assisting 200 U.S. Customs incidents of narcotics and currency seizures. The CABINET task is accomplished on a daily basis by a relatively small staff of seven full-time U.S. Customs employees, including managers, agents, analysts, and support personnel. Four senior Customs inspectors are also detailed full-time to CABINET from the Port of Chicago. Full-time participation is received from the UK representative and two Illinois National Guard members. Part-time representatives from other agencies include an INS special agent, a U.S. postal inspector, a U.S. deputy marshal, an FBI intelligence analyst, and a State Department Diplomatic Security Service special agent. For more information on CABINET resources, please call 312-983-1400.