Terrorists are trying to recruit individuals with European Union passports in order to get inside the United States, said the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff on Thursday, July 17 according to The Associated Press. Appearing in front of the House Homeland Security Committee, he also expressed concern that terrorists could sneak in a “dirty” bomb, an explosive with radiological material wrapped around it using a private aircraft or small boat.

“The terrorists are deliberately focusing on people who have legitimate Western European passports, who don’t appear to have records as terrorists,” Chertoff said. He further stated there was “no guarantee” that all the terrorists could be intercepted before entering the U.S.

Chertoff also described his efforts to increase the safety of the United States. He plans to approve new technology to detect radiation in the fall, which is currently being tested at ports in Seattle and San Diego. He also hopes to put a regulation in place to bring about the pre-screening of private aircraft entering the U.S.

He also disclosed for the first time that the U.S. shared intelligence with Mexico that helped them to capture a 33-foot submarine full of cocaine to be smuggled into the U.S. The vessel was constructed and used by Colombian drug traffickers. According to The Los Angeles Times, 40 such vessels had been seen since 2007, which are often sunk by the drug traffickers to avoid their seizure.  

Ryan Mauro