CBP Accounted for Its Firearms but Did Not Always Account for Ammunition or Monitor Storage Facilities

Submitting OIG:

Report Description:

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) accounted for its firearms but did not always maintain accurate records for firearm locations or quantities of ammunition, as required. During our physical inventory of firearms in storage at 12 sites, we identified 126 firearms not located at the address indicated in CBP’s system of record. CBP also did not ensure ammunition control, accountability, and loss reporting complied with policy requirements for sensitive assets.

Date Issued:

Thursday, September 28, 2023

Agency Reviewed / Investigated:

Department of Homeland Security

Submitting OIG-Specific Report Number:

OIG-23-60

Component, if applicable:

United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP)

Location(s):

Agency-Wide

Type of Report:

Audit

Questioned Costs:

Funds for Better Use:

Number of Recommendations:

Report updated under NDAA 5274:

Additional Details Link:

https://www.oig.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/assets/2023-09/OIG-23-60-Sep23.pdf

Recommendation Number	Recommendation Status	Significant Recommendation
1	Open	No
We recommend the Executive Director, Law Enforcement Safety and Compliance Directorate implement a process to ensure recordation, for each stored firearm, of the physical location, including street address, and specific location within the facility, in the Firearms, Armor, and Credentials Tracking System.
2	Open	No
We recommend the Executive Director, Law Enforcement Safety and Compliance Directorate improve the quarterly ammunition inventory process by ensuring that it reflects or captures differences and explanations between stored amounts and amounts listed in the Firearms, Armor, and Credentials Tracking System.
2	Open	No
We recommend the Executive Director, Law Enforcement Safety and Compliance Directorate improve the quarterly ammunition inventory process by ensuring that it reflects or captures differences and explanations between stored amounts and amounts listed in the Firearms, Armor, and Credentials Tracking System.
3	Open	No
We recommend the Executive Director, Law Enforcement Safety and Compliance Directorate develop and implement a process to ensure all quarterly ammunition inventories are completed.
4	Open	No
We recommend the Executive Director, Law Enforcement Safety and Compliance Directorate develop and implement a process to track proficiency ammunition issued to officers.
5	Open	No
We recommend the Executive Director, Law Enforcement Safety and Compliance Directorate develop and implement a process to track lost or stolen ammunition, including specifying reporting thresholds.
6	Open	No
We recommend the Assistant Commissioner, Office of Professional Responsibility, in coordination with the Director, Management Inspections Division, develop and implement, through CBP’s Self-Inspection Program, a process to periodically inspect and verify the position and functionality of video surveillance systems monitoring firearm and ammunition storage areas.
7	Open	No
We recommend that the Commissioner of CBP develop and implement a corrective action plan to ensure firearms and ammunition video surveillance systems are installed in required areas, functioning, and correctly positioned at the 11 locations with issues identified in this report.

Recommendation Number

Recommendation Status

Significant Recommendation

Additional Details

Open

We recommend the Executive Director, Law Enforcement Safety and Compliance Directorate implement a process to ensure recordation, for each stored firearm, of the physical location, including street address, and specific location within the facility, in the Firearms, Armor, and Credentials Tracking System.

Open

We recommend the Executive Director, Law Enforcement Safety and Compliance Directorate improve the quarterly ammunition inventory process by ensuring that it reflects or captures differences and explanations between stored amounts and amounts listed in the Firearms, Armor, and Credentials Tracking System.

Open