Fact Sheet Office of Counterterrorism Washington, DC July 19, 2002 Terrorist Interdiction Program (TIP)Terrorism has become a truly global threat, with terrorists, weapons, and funds flowing across international borders. This poses a clear danger to all countries and increases the need for international coordination and mutual assistance. The Terrorist Interdiction Program is one of the Coordinator for Counterterrorism’s (S/CT) responses. TIP impedes terrorists’ capabilities to move freely by assisting countries in securing their borders and improving their capability to interdict and prevent the transit of terrorist suspects -- a critical component of the global effort to fight terrorism. What are the intent and goals of TIP? TIP is a highly effective, low-cost, proven tool in the global fight against terrorism. It provides participant countries with the ability to collect, compare and analyze traveler data to assist the country in securing its borders and, if necessary, detain individuals of interest. TIP operates on two different tracks: intercepting suspects and providing data for investigative purposes. PISCES is a software application, tailored to each country’s specific needs, which provides border control officials at these transit points with information that allows them to identify and detain or track individuals of interest. Officials can also use PISCES to quickly retrieve information on persons who may be trying to hastily depart the country after a terrorist incident. Furthermore, TIP trains border control officials to use PISCES to collect, compare and analyze data that can be utilized to arrest and investigate suspects. What are the intent and goals of TIP? TIP seeks to bolster international counterterrorism cooperation in preventing terrorists from moving freely from country to country. Through PISCES, TIP achieves this goal by providing border officials in willing nations with increased capacity to collect, compare, and analyze traveler data. TIP helps tighten the noose at key terrorist transit points world-wide. In doing so, it enhances both the security of Americans who live and travel abroad and the assisted nation’s people. TIP has been recognized by President Bush as a key tool in expanding international counterterterrorism cooperation. Through partnerships with participant countries, TIP has identified known or suspected terrorists. Such successes show the two-fold benefits of TIP: better protection for U.S. citizens at home and overseas and better protection of citizens in participating countries. |