Alejandro Mayorkas United States Secretary of Homeland Security | Official Website
The Minister Delegate for Public Accounts of France, Mr. Thomas Cazanave, and the Senior Official Performing the Duties of Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Ms. Kristie Canegallo, signed a Joint Declaration of Intent today to enhance Franco-American customs cooperation.
The agreement aims to improve collaboration in intelligence, inspections, investigations, targeting and operational cooperation, and exchange best practices in customs operations. The focus areas include securing container traffic, major port and airport facilities, express freight, e-commerce, and financial flows related to criminal organizations.
The declaration also targets combating arms and drug trafficking, transnational organized crime, and threats to national security. Cooperation will occur between entities such as the French Customs Coast Guard and U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Air and Marine Operations. Other involved agencies include the French National Directorate of Customs Intelligence and Investigations and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations.
Enhanced collaboration is anticipated between CBP’s National Targeting Center and the French Customs Risk Analysis and Targeting Service for risk analysis concerning passengers and cargo controls.
The declaration also emphasizes joint efforts to secure the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics and 2028 Los Angeles Summer Olympics through sharing best practices.
On this occasion, both officials reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cross-border operational cooperation to combat threats including narcotics trafficking, forced labor, arms trafficking, economic fraud, money laundering, national security breaches, fentanyl distribution, and other sensitive issues affecting the flow of goods.
