The United Arab Emirates has become the first Middle East country to join a U.S. program aimed at protecting U.S.-bound sea cargo from terrorists.
U.S. Customs officials said Sunday their inspectors will be stationed at the port of Dubai to help screen sea cargo being sent to the United States.
The screening program is already in place in dozens of other countries around the world.
The initiative began in early 2002, in an effort to protect sea cargo against possible tampering by terrorists. It is also aimed at preventing terrorists from smuggling weapons or themselves into the United States.
Some information for this story provided by AP and AFP.