The recent 7ª Conferencia Sectorial de Seguridad en Puertos (7th Sectoral Conference on Port Security) in Madrid, Spain delivered a message that was nothing short of a general alarm. The head of Organized Crime division of the Spanish Intelligence Centre against Terrorism and Organised Crime (CITCO), laid out a chilling reality: a “tsunami” of cocaine, with seizures skyrocketing, and more than 450 organized crime groups identified.
His presentation, “Organized Crime in Ports,” was not just an update; it was a clear-eyed assessment of a critical vulnerability. As he pointed to the exponential rise in trafficking, it became clear that traditional security measures are being overwhelmed. The very assets that power our global economy—shipping containers—are being used as weapons by sophisticated criminal networks.
Law-enforcement agencies’ strategy to fight back is “ARCO” – Anticipate, React, and Consolidate. This framework calls for a massive upgrade in physical security, access controls, and detection technologies.
This is precisely where the old model of security gates and visual checks fails, and where modern technology must take over. This is a problem of data, visibility, and speed. And one of the most effective answers is Computer Vision.
The “Anticipation” Gap
For ports, the enemy is anonymity. Organized crime thrives in the chaos of high-volume logistics. A truck and its container are just one of thousands. Manually verifying every single container, license plate, and security seal in real-time is an impossible task.
This “invisibility” is what allows illicit activities to happen. A container can be dropped in an unauthorized area, a seal can be tampered with, or an unauthorized truck can gain access. The “Anticipate” part of the ARCO strategy seems impossible when you’re blind to these subtle anomalies.
AllRead’s Solution: Turning Cameras into Proactive Security Agents
This is where AllRead’s computer vision technology provides a direct solution. Our software transforms any standard security camera (IP, CCTV) into a smart, tireless agent that can read, identify, and track every asset moving through a port.
- Total Traceability: Our AI-powered software reads and digitizes container codes (BIC), license plates, and railway wagon codes (UIC) with over 98% accuracy. It works in motion, in poor weather, and even on damaged or dirty codes. Suddenly, every container and vehicle is digitally accounted for at numerous control points along the port.
- Automating Access Control: The highlighted “access control” is a core function. AllRead solution can integrate directly with the port’s Access Control System (ACS), Gate Operating System (GOS) or Terminal Operating System (TOS) to automate gates. When a truck arrives, AllRead software instantly reads its license plate and container code, checks it against the manifest, and grants or denies access – all in seconds. This hardens the perimeter, stops unauthorized entry, and eliminates human error.
Answering the “ARCO” Strategy, Point by Point
AllRead’s technology isn’t just a gatekeeper; it’s an intelligence platform that directly enables the ARCO framework.
- Anticipate: Because the software tracks assets at multiple “control points” within the terminal, it does not just log entry and exit. It monitors movement. As detailed in our own analysis of port security, this allows for powerful anomaly detection.
- Example: A truck passes Gate A and is due at Crane B in 10 minutes. If it takes 30 minutes—or deviates from its approved route—an automatic alert is sent to security. This “abnormally high time” could signal a stop for tampering, theft, or a “rip-off”. This is true anticipation.
- React: Real-time alerts enable real-time reactions. Instead of discovering a tampered seal hours later, security teams can react the moment an anomaly is flagged, investigating the specific truck and container while it is still in the terminal. AllRead’s technology allows monitoring the presence of seals at control points, and even automating the reading of their codes through mobile devices.
- Consolidate: Every read and every movement is stored as objective, verifiable data (including an evidence image). This creates an irrefutable digital audit trail. This data is crucial for post-incident investigations, identifying systemic vulnerabilities, and proving compliance, thereby “consolidating” the security of the entire operation.
A Scalable Defense for an Escalating Threat
The threat described by our Law-Enforcement agencies is fluid, intelligent, and well-funded. The only way to fight it is with a defense that is just as smart and even more scalable.
The presentation also rightly listed Funding as a key pillar for the future. The beauty of a software-based computer vision solution like AllRead’s is that it leverages existing infrastructure. It does not require massive, multi-million dollar investments in new gantries or proprietary hardware. It allows ports to rapidly deploy an “intelligent” security layer over their existing camera network, making it a cost-effective and scalable solution.
The warning is clear. To defend our ports, we must see everything. AllRead provides the vision.