Countering Illicit Trade in Nuclear-Related Commodities: Targeting and Commodity Identification to Improve Export Control Enforcement

Recent revelations about the ongoing proliferation of nuclear-related technologies, equipment, and materials, as well as the activities of the procurement networks supporting these weapons programs, place a premium on improving export control enforcement capabilities worldwide. The Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) provides training and tools to improve the ability of export control enforcement personnel to recognize and respond to potentially illicit shipments of strategic controlled items through its International Nonproliferation Export Control Program (INECP). This paper explains the strategy behind and methodology of several key initiatives under this Program, including targeting and commodity identification training as well as the development of technical tools (such as metal alloy analyzers and reference databases) to facilitate these efforts.