Following a tradition lasting more than a decade, the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport entered 2011 as the world’s busiest airport. In 2010 alone, it welcomed about 4.5 million international passengers.

All international travelers are likely accustomed to a routine including a final swipe of their passports through readers by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers. However, they are probably unaware that each single swipe conducted at every U.S. seaport and airport results in the passport number being checked against more than 26 million stolen and lost travel document records shared by almost 160 countries worldwide.