Use of RFID for intelligent pre-shipment inspection

Pre-shipment inspection is usually undertaken by customs administrations and standards bureaus to address security, smuggling, tax evasion and counterfeit goods challenges of imports. The process has predominantly been undertaken using manual based methods which have had considerable shortcomings. Manual methods of inspection at source and manual tracking are subject to abuse and often results in failure of detecting illegal consignments. Use of modern methods of verification and subsequent tracking has become necessary in order to adequately deal with the challenges experienced by governments. This paper seeks to address these challenges by providing a design of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) based method of inspection. The system supports tracking of cargo from source to destination using Real Time Location Tracking System (RTLS) using Active RFID technology, GPS and satellite modems. The design, functionality and workings are provided together with the results of tests undertaken on the model using three simulation tools. While the design provides an effective method of intelligent inspection, additional benefits comprise provision of detailed electronic reports that include RFID tag IDs and description, information that would be useful to other government departments or agencies interested in detailed statistics.