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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. Import Specialists may be assigned to any of the
nearly 300 ports of entry along our land and sea borders. Work stations include airports and seaports,
waterfronts, border stations, and customs houses. When possible, Import Specialists are placed in the
work location of their choice. The typical work schedule is eight hours per day, five days per week, but
it may involve weekend duty and rotating shifts. At times, the working hours at certain stations are
irregular or involve overtime hours. The fringe benefits that Import Specialists receive include overtime
pay, 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.
Promotion Opportunities
Entry-level appointments to the position of Import Specialist are made at grades GS-5 and GS-7. After
a one-year probationary period, employees may achieve permanent status. Import Specialists have
excellent advancement potential, with opportunities to apply for supervisory and management slots at
grades GS-13 and above.
SPECIAL AGENT, CUSTOMS
Duties of the Job
The U.S. Customs Service, part of the Department of the Treasury, enforces not only its own but some
400 laws and regulations for 40 other federal agencies. Playing a crucial part in carrying out these
responsibilities is a highly trained group of plainclothes investigators called Special Agents. They make
certain that the government obtains revenue on incoming goods and that contraband and controlled
substances, including marijuana, narcotics, and dangerous drugs, do not enter or leave the country
illegally. Special Agents investigate smuggling, currency cases, criminal fraud against the revenue
system, and major cargo thefts. Their targets include professionals and amateurs alike: international crime
syndicates, importers undervaluing goods to avoid duties or taxes, and tourists giving false information
on baggage declarations. Through investigation of individuals, of transporters, and of merchandise
arriving in or departing from the United States, they protect both government and business community
interests as well as the health and safety of our citizens.
Special Agents, of course, cannot function without assistance in their investigations and sometimes
require the aid of other law enforcement officers. For example, information supplied by Customs Patrol
Officers, Customs Import Specialists, and Customs Inspectors often eventually leads to the undoing of
persons engaged in illegal acts. In addition to coordinating efforts with the Customs Service personnel,
Agents also work along with representatives of other law enforcement agencies such as the Federal
Bureau of Investigation, Immigration and Naturalization Service, and the Drug Enforcement Adminis-
tration. Special Agents gather information from different sources including informants, public and
private records, surveillance activities, and questioning of suspects. At times, other identities are assumed
and work is performed undercover to collect evidence of illegal activities. In some instances, Agents make
use of support services such as complex radio communications networks; Customs Dog Handlers, whose
specially trained canines can detect hidden quantities of narcotics; or Customs Pilots, who patrol
designated areas to detect questionable or illegal activities.
