1. http://www.tsa.gov/about-tsa/fulfilling-tsas-role-human-smuggling-and-trafficking-
center
Fulfilling TSA's Role in the Human Smuggling and Trafficking
Center
Spotlight On
Vernon Weibel is a Senior Intelligence Analyst with the Office of
Intelligence and Analysis, and serves as TSA’s representative to the Human Smuggling and Trafficking
Center (HSTC). Weibel is responsible for fulfilling TSA’s critical role to provide the HSTC with subject
matter expertise in travel system infrastructure vulnerabilities. The HSTC is an interagency center
organized to integrate and disseminate intelligence and information on human smuggling, trafficking in
persons, and the criminal facilitation of clandestine terrorist travel.
For more than two years, Weibel has worked closely with federal agency representatives from the
Intelligence Community and departments of Homeland Security, Justice, and State to convert
intelligence into effective law enforcement, diplomatic, and other actions to counter smugglers,
traffickers, and terrorist travel facilitators.
Weibel was selected for the HSTC detail position because of his expertise in intelligence analysis and
law enforcement collaboration and support. He possesses more than 20 years of federal government
experience in intelligence and operations at three different agencies, with the most recent 11 years at
TSA. At TSA, he has successfully carried out intelligence analysis that identified and called attention to
emerging terrorist tactics.
At the Department of Justice, where we he worked for more than a decade, he was as an analyst with
the National Central Bureau of the International Criminal Police Organization.
“What I do matters because U.S. and foreign policymakers consider my analysis as they allocate
resources and develop policies to address terrorist travel, human smuggling and trafficking, and border
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2. http://www.tsa.gov/about-tsa/fulfilling-tsas-role-human-smuggling-and-trafficking-
center
security. I am the HSTC lead in producing the Center’s congressionally-mandated annual assessment
regarding the vulnerabilities in the U.S. and foreign travel systems that may be exploited by terrorists,
human smugglers and traffickers, and their facilitators. I also collaborate with allied foreign
governments and international organizations in producing joint strategic threat assessments concerning
illicit travel.
“I take great pride in fulfilling TSA’s role in the Human Smuggling and Trafficking Center, which serves
as the focal point for interagency efforts to address the criminal facilitation of terrorist travel. Through
my participation at the Center, I enhance TSA’s integration and information sharing efforts among the
intelligence, law enforcement, homeland security, and diplomatic communities to prevent terrorist
travel. I also enhance TSA’s anti-human trafficking training to further increase awareness of the crime
by analyzing all-source information to identify trends and ongoing events where traffickers operate. For
example, I produce and provide situational awareness intelligence of potential human trafficking
activities to the TSA workforce on a regular basis. January is National Slavery and Human Trafficking
Prevention Month, and I hope this spotlight article also raises public awareness of the crime by
highlighting TSA’s role in the Human Smuggling and Trafficking Center.
“It’s professionally and personally rewarding to contribute to the success of TSA’s mission through my
participation at the Center. Preventing terrorist travel and the exploitation of travel system
infrastructure vulnerabilities are key elements to TSA’s success as an intelligence-driven, risk-based
counterterrorism agency.”
By Jeffrey L. Johnson, Office of Intelligence and Analysis
Latest revision: 23 January 2015
modified on 01/23/2015 - 09:48
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