see also: in December 2004:   CBP Border Patrol Intercepts Over 12,000 Pounds of Marijuana   Customs and Border Protection Names Passic Director of New Office of Drug Interdiction   U.S. and India Sign Pact to Improve Trade and Fight Criminal Activity   CBP Border Patrol’s National Security Efforts Benefit From New Technology   CBP Border Patrol Loses One of Their Own   Murder Suspect Apprehended At Border   Container Security Initiative Port of Livorno, Italy becomes 33rd Operational Port ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers

contacts for this news release

Amman, Jordan— Today U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Robert C. Bonner met with officials from the Iraqi Department of Border Enforcement (DBE), and Cathy Freibel, Jordanian International Police Training Center Director to discuss CBP’s role in training Iraqi border police. The Commissioner commended the CBP Officers and Border patrol agents who, in partnership with the Iraqi DBE, apprehended 41 terrorists at the Iraqi border. These insurgents were operating a weapons route effectively arming the insurgency violence within Iraq. The CBP and Iraqi DBE are also responsible for breaking up a known Iraqi smuggling ring also operating at one of the borders.

“U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers and agents are bringing security directly to the threat in the war on terror. Our people are on a vital mission to train Iraqis to protect their own borders and build an institution that will safeguard the new freedoms and democratic principles being established in Iraq. There is no more important mission,” said Commissioner Bonner.

The Department of Homeland Security and CBP are committed to improving the security situation in Iraq. As the world’s premier and largest border enforcement agency, CBP is playing an integral role in developing and institutionalizing Iraq’s overall border security strategy. CBP officers and Border Patrol agents are using their skills and experience to train Iraqis enabling Iraqis to better secure their own country against terrorists and terrorist weapons.

While at the Jordanian International Police Training Center (JIPTC), Commissioner Bonner presented the 20 CBP officers and Border Patrol agents with their first-ever Department of Homeland Security badges.

“One of the most important objectives of President Bush is to help build credible, effective, and professional institutions in Iraq. That's what CBP is doing," said Commissioner Bonner. “I salute the CBP officers and agents who volunteered their expertise and sacrificed the comforts of home to help institute Iraqi border security. “

Currently, CBP Border Patrol agents and CBP officers are stationed at the JIPTC. Additional CBP individuals are providing direct assistance in Iraqi border security operations. Since August 25, the CBP team has helped train over 1,600 Iraqi border police officers in three separate classes, with the most recent class graduating on December 1. Training includes border security tactics, human rights, defensive tactics, weapons training, vehicle searches for suicide bombs, as well as basic customs and immigration.

A fourth class of over 500 Iraqis begins this week and is scheduled to graduate the end of this month. Immediately after graduation this class of Iraqi border police will be deployed to the most troubled spots on the Iraqi border.

CBP’s priority mission is to prevent terrorists and terrorist weapons from entering the United States, while still facilitating legitimate trade and travel. Over 1,000 CBP officers and Border patrol agents are stationed around the world working to defeat terrorism.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the protection of the nation’s borders. CBP unified Customs, Immigration and Agricultural inspectors and the Border Patrol into one border agency for the United States.