The EXBS program in Macedonia was CBP’s “entrant” in the 2004 Olympics. Macedonia just recently received its full-time EXBS advisor, David White, in March 2004, roughly six months before the games were to take place. Shortly after White’s arrival in Skopje, Macedonia, CBP’s “game” for the Olympics was identified: The Macedonia EXBS program would assist the Macedonian Customs and Border Police to secure the border between Greece and Macedonia for the upcoming Olympics.

Assistance began to materialize in less than six weeks, when specialized equipment was delivered to Skopje. This equipment included basic tool kits to help inspect vehicles and cargo; radiation pagers to detect sources of radioactivity; suits and masks to protect against chemical or biological agents; and contraband detection kits that are designed to detect a variety of illegal substances or materials and thus enhance the inspection methods to help secure the Olympics. Macedonian Customs and Border Police also received an x-ray van to examine packages and baggage, including gym bags. The bomb hidden inside a gym bag at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, Ga., was still fresh on many minds.

Thee U.S. Ambassador to Macedonia, Edward Butler, officially presented the equipment to the Macedonian Government in a ceremony on Customs Day, April 6, 2004. He said, "I hope you never actually need to use any of this, but in the event that you do, you are now prepared to do so skillfully and safely."

From May 25 through 27, EXBS Program Manager Joyce Gouge and Advisor David White partnered with Romanian first-response experts with whom they had worked in the past to provide training in detection methods, ways to identify various threats from terrorists or terrorist weapons, and proper uses of equipment and protective gear.

They trained four personnel from Macedonia’s Customs and Border Police to be instructors in using the donated equipment so that in the future, the border police will be able to train others within their agencies on proper use and procedures for the donated detection and protective equipment.

Macedonia is only one of the EXBS countries that participated as part of CBP’s representation in the 2004 Olympics. Our goal had been to make all our entrants world-class “athletes” in the fight against terrorism and to instill a team spirit in the effort supporting non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Considering that the Olympics came off without any security hitches, CBP was deemed a gold medal winner! And in our cooperative effort with the Government of Macedonia, both sides will be winners. LW

EXBS Program Manager Joyce Gouge and EXBS Advisor David White contributed to this article.