International Banana Security

Here is an international-corporate, national security story that may nonetheless have some appeal.
Recently in Antwerp, Belgium Chiquita International Brands held a privately sponsored law enforcement conference,(link)the first ever according to the press release.
The goal was to facilitate communication between industry partners and law enforcement agencies with the goal of securing the point-to-point security of all shipping vessels.
This would smooth the way for bananas to slip more easily from port to port. The conference was lead for Chiquita by a former FBI special agent and had attendees from eight South American and European countries.

"It's not just our responsibility to ensure our products move through the supply chain as quickly as possible, but it is also our duty to collaborate with government agencies in securing our ports and the vessels and cargo that travel through them."

The Antwerp conference is the most recent example of Chiquita's leadership* and commitment to collaboratively working with government agencies to increase the safety and security of international trade. Last year, Chiquita attained the coveted "Tier III" certification in the U.S. Government's Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism.

A security industry publication says: The US Customs(C-TPAT) certification allows private companies which agree to improve security of their supply chains to face a reduced likelihood of having their containers inspected thus expediting the shipping process.

In 2008 the GAO (Government Accounting Office) found security gaps in this program that it said terrorists theoretically could exploit to smuggle weapons of mass destruction in cargo containers

*In 2007 Chiquita International pleaded guilty and paid $25 million in fines admitting it paid right-wing paramilitary and leftist groups in violation of US laws against supporting terrorists for support in war torn farming regions in Columbia.

Chiquita International more recently is facing multiple lawsuits in New Jersey, District of Columbia, Florida and New York from families of people that suffered extrajudicial killings, torture, forced disappearances, crimes against humanity and war crimes at the hands of paramilitary organizations which received funds from Chiquita.(link)