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Customs Inspectors are also responsible for the examination of crew and passenger lists, health
clearances, stores' lists, and ships' documents and for issuing required permits. They seal the holds of
ships and compartments containing sea stores used by crew members as a means of preventing the illegal
sale or smuggling of dutiable merchandise into the United States. In certain cases in which wrongdoing
is suspected, they conduct body searches of crew members to check for contraband.
When assigned to baggage examination stations at points of entry into the United States, Customs
Inspectors perform a variety of tasks. They classify, assess, and collect duties on articles being brought
into the country, and they advise tourists about U.S. Customs regulations. For example, some tourists
entering the country bring in more items than are permitted under duty-free regulations. In such instances,
when informed of the regulations, tourists usually change their Customs declarations and pay the duty
before baggage inspection. However, if undeclared items are discovered in baggage, the Customs
Inspector must determine whether this is merely an oversight or deliberate fraud on the passenger's part.
In most instances, these matters are settled immediately, but occasionally the articles are held, and a U.S.
Customs hearing is scheduled to decide the case. Customs Inspectors are sometimes alerted by
peculiarities in an individual's appearance, such as an unusual bulge in a traveler's pocket. In such cases,
the traveler is asked to empty the pocket and display the contents on the counter for examination.
Sometimes this reveals a poor attempt to hide a dutiable item; other times the item may turn out to be
gloves or a scarf. Penalties are levied against persons caught trying to evade duty payments.
Customs Inspectors often question suspicious-looking individuals. They explain Customs procedures
and laws to tourists or others unfamiliar with them. When the situation warrants, Customs Inspectors are
authorized to search suspected individuals and to seize contraband and undeclared merchandise. In
addition, they may arrest or detain these individuals using physical force or firearms if necessary. In
carrying out their responsibilities, Customs Inspectors often work in cooperation with other government
agents such as Special Agents, Customs; Customs Patrol Officers; Import Specialists; Special Agents,
FBI; Special Agents, Drug Enforcement Administration; Agents of the U.S. Immigration and Natural-
ization Service and the Food and Drug Administration; and public health and agricultural quarantine
inspectors. Customs Inspectors prepare reports to submit to supervisors regarding findings, transactions,
violations, and arrests that take place during their work tour. They are also called upon to testify in court
as government witnesses in cases in which they have been involved.
Working Conditions
The Customs territory of the United States is divided into nine regions made up of the 50 states, the District
of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Customs Inspectors may be assigned to any of the
nearly 300 ports of entry along our land and sea borders or may work overseas. These work locations
include airports and seaports, waterfronts, border stations, customs houses, and in some cases, the U.S.
Customs Service Headquarters in Washington, D.C. When possible, Customs Inspectors are placed in the
work location of their choice. The typical work schedule is eight hours a day, five days a week, but it
includes rotating shifts and weekend duty. The hours of the typical seaport or airport are often long and
irregular, and remoteness characterizes the many one-man border ports where Customs Inspectors must
often perform immigration and agricultural inspections in addition to regular duties.
For all this extra effort, however, Customs Inspectors are liberally compensated by special overtime
privileges enacted by congressional legislation. The possibility of physical injury exists when Customs
Inspectors seize and arrest persons suspected of serious Customs violations. The fringe benefits a
Customs Inspector receives include paid vacations and sick leave; military leave; low-cost group
hospitalization, medical, and life insurance; and retirement annuities covered by the Bureau of Retirement
of the Office of Personnel Management.
