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Operation JaxBox at Jaxport

 Jackelyn Barnard     Created: 4/16/2009 4:12:18 PM    Updated: 4/16/2009 9:37:25 PM
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JACKSONVILLE, FL -- One by one, each truck at Jaxport is checked. It's part of what is called "Operation Jaxbox."

"It's a safety factor and there's also a security element to it as well," said Coast Guard Lt. Commander Mark Kuperman. "We want a good idea of what's coming in and out of the port."

Kuperman is just one of dozens of local, state and federal agents who took part in the two-day operation.

Authorities targeted safety problems on trucks, like brakes and tires. But they also checked the loads on board, too.

"We've had, on occasion, found people hiding in containers, weapons or narcotics," said Jennifer Bradshaw of U.S. Customs and Border Patrol.

Bradshaw says the security check points were set up at Blount Island and Talleyrand Wednesday morning.

Part of the check point involves a large x-ray machine which penetrates steel. Trucks go through it, the machine then gives crews an image of what is inside a container.

The pictures let authorities know if a closer look is needed. "We've had some hazardous material that is stored improperly," said Kuperman.

While that problem was being fixed, a chopper flew above to make sure trucks who saw the check point did not turn around.

The search was done by air, by ground and by dog, with "Taser", a seven year old K-9 with JSO. "Taser" is a trained hunter for drugs.

"Today we hit a vehicle, a Mercedes Benz, that came in a carrier," said the dog's handler, Officer Charles Wilkie of JSO. "We had information when the scan was done there was a compartment in question." Wilkie says they found a hidden compartment but no drugs. He believes his dog hit on an area that once carried drugs or maybe drug money.

More than 1,000 containers were searched in two days.

The good news is no major problems were found.

FDLE, FDOT, JSO, FHP, U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Customs and Border Patrol are just some of the agencies that took part in "Operation Jaxbox."

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