A method of expediting a release procedure of at least one cargo container at least one border crossing or at least one customs entry point by detecting each statistically significant threat (SST) signal associated with at least one said cargo container while in transit, and by tracking and reporting to an appropriate party the position coordinates and a security status of each cargo container that generated at least one said SST signal. The appropriate party is selected from the group consisting of: {Homeland Security agency; and a cargo security agency}. The cargo security agency is further selected from the group consisting of: {a consignee; a steamship line; a customs broker; a freight forwarder; and a terminal operator}.