Counter-Proliferation Investigations Unit

The Counter-Proliferation Investigations Unit prevents sensitive U.S. technologies and weapons from reaching the hands of adversaries. The unit combats the trafficking and illegal export of the following commodities and services:

• Weapons of Mass Destruction materials;
• Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear materials;
• Military equipment and technology;
• Controlled dual-use commodities and technology;
• Firearms and ammunition; and
• Financial and business transactions with sanctioned and embargoed countries and terrorist organizations.

Project Shield America, an outreach initiative, protects the United States and its technological and military advantages. ICE agents conduct presentations with manufacturers and/or exporters of strategic commodities that could be targeted for procurement by terrorist organizations and the countries that support them, as well as countries identified as weapons proliferators. Presentations include information about U.S. export laws, export licensing issues and requirements, "red flag" indicators used in illegal procurement, and government agencies responsible for the licensing of export-controlled commodities and technology.

Project Shield America isn't intended to restrict or discourage legitimate U.S. exports. Rather, it is designed to protect technology resulting from American ingenuity and labor, and prevent our adversaries from acquiring that technology.

In 2009, the Obama Administration directed an interagency review of the U.S. export control system. The review addressed strengthening national security while maximizing the competitiveness of key U.S. manufacturing and technology sectors.

As a result of the review, the Administration launched the Export Control Reform Initiative which aims to reform the U.S. export control system. In November 2010, President Obama issued Executive Order 13558 which established an interagency Federal Export Enforcement Coordination Center (E2C2). The Center is led by ICE HSI, on behalf of the Department of Homeland Security. The Center serves as the enforcement and intelligence coordination hub for all U.S. agencies with a role in export enforcement.

In June 2011, the World Customs Organization (WCO) and its members decided to make Program Global Shield a long-term effort. Originally a pilot project, Program Global Shield aims to prevent the smuggling of precursor chemicals that can be used to build improvised explosive devices, which are weapons commonly used against American troops. Program Global Shield aims to increase real-time information and intelligence sharing between partners to effectively accomplish its mission.

Through the Counter-Proliferation Investigations Unit, which is housed within Homeland Security Investigations' (HSI) National Security Investigations Division (NSID), ICE spearheads this project and works closely with international partners, as well as U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and other federal agencies.

2/4/2013 Del Rio, TX Southwest Texas man extradited from Mexico for smuggling defense articles

1/30/2013 Brownsville, TX Former south Texas police officer pleads guilty to gun-trafficking charges

1/29/2013 Miami, FL ICE deports 3 Colombians convicted of conspiracy to export fighter jet engines to Iran

1/16/2013 New York, NY HSI arrest a Hong Kong man for selling and smuggling stolen US military equipment into the US

1/9/2013 El Paso, TX British businessman sentenced in El Paso to nearly 3 years for aiding and abetting the illegal export of defense articles

12/21/2012 Washington, DC 2 extradited from Singapore in connection with plot to illegally export military antennas

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If you have information regarding international terrorism, violations of U.S. export laws, or economic sanctions and embargoes, please call 1-866-DHS-2-ICE (1-866-347-2423).