Automating customs verification process using RFID technology

Customs administrations are beginning to embrace intelligent technologies so as to address the challenge of security, speed and efficiency in trade facilitation. Use of the supply chain by crooks and terrorists has led to employment of intelligent risk management techniques for identification and subsequent verification of cargo. Manual verification processes have however been susceptible to corrupt practices and have often been used to defeat other intelligent systems through incorrect feedback given to update intelligence databases. This paper provides an enhanced automated method of electronically verifying cargo contents using RFID technology. The paper discusses the challenges experienced in physical verification and how they are addressed by use intelligent verification. Several simulations are undertaken covering various possible scenarios. The results of these simulations are discussed in the paper. Simulation results indicate that RFID based intelligent verification can effectively be used to undertake verifications. In addition, the method was noted to be capable of combating corruption practices and providing complete audit trail of all transactions; solving the greatest challenge and weakness of manual based verifications.