Page 11 - Customs Today Winter1984-OCR

Commissioner Inspector Henry: very favorable comments from everyone. People
How do you feel about that It hasn't been done much since the Red/ are naturally interested in getting through Cus
comment, Mark, that frequent Green system was started, only occasionally toms as quickly as possible, especially the fre
travelers would grow used to the now. quent travelers who go through Customs all the
system and would learn how to Commissioner: time.
cheat it? What about Houston? Commissioner:
Inspector Eisenhauer: Inspector Cook: Well, I've enjoyed meeting and
I think our presence and the fact that we We have done it occasionally but found it talking with you men very much. It's
inspect at random will act as a deterrent. unproductive. always good to hear about these
Commissioner: Commissioner: things from the people who are ac
Do any of you ever change the How do passengers react to tually on the line, so to speak. I'm
system and do a 100-percent in the Red/Green systems? encouraged that my philosophy on
law enforcement has been adopted
spection? Of course, I know you do Inspector Cook:
in Miami. Those who have been through Customs by inspectors, and I want you to
know you have my full support.
Inspector Casale: before certainly give it favorable comment. And
the comments in the press have been very good. Inspector Bauman:
If a flight arrives with a low passenger
count, we do a 100-percent inspection. We can Inspector Henry: That's very encouraging, Commissioner.
do a pretty through job on everyone, then. The people using JFK seem to like it, too. I think the best thing that has happened to in
Commissioner: Inspector Bauman: spectors since you came to Customs has been the
What about Kennedy? It's the same in Miami. We have received increased emphasis on law enforcement. And I
think every inspector knows he has your support.

Discussing law enforcement with the Commissioner, John Casale from Miami International Airport tells Mark Eisenhauer from O'Hare International Airport
Inspector Vincent Hauk from JFK International Air the Commissioner that roving inspectors in uniform in Chicago says roving inspectors there work with en
port in New York notes that Red/Green has enabled there sometimes get bogged down in details when forcement teams in the busy carousel area most of the
plainclothes Customs officers at busy JFK to be quite travelers ask for directions. He says inspectors in time but also work in the secondary area when needed
successful in making major narcotics seizures. He uniform at Miami need to keep reminding themselves for enforcement work. Eisenhauer added that when
adds that inspectors assigned to the rapid-processing that they need to remain alert for smugglers as well as flights from the Orient land at O 'Hare, he and his co
green area speed inspections for families and others help travelers with routine matters. workers find it a good idea to open up an extra red line
with no problems, and that other inspectors working because many travelers from the Orient will declare
the red lanes are free to deal with time-consuming $3,000 worth of merchandise when they are actually
problems and law enforcement matters. carrying far more than that.

Discussing the use of roving inspectors at international When Commissioner von Raab asked what the in
airports using Red/Green, Commissioner von Raab spectors thought the next step in air traveler processing
noted that the use of roving inspectors might cause might be to improve Red/Green procedures, Inspector
other inspectors in primary and secondary inspection John Henry from JFK International Airport in New
areas to relax their enforcement efforts. Replying to York told him, "I think it's too early to say that
this, Inspector Bob Bauman from Miami Interna Red/Green is the final solution. We're going through
tional Airport said that may be true in the case of an evolutionary period right now, and I think we've
obvious drug couriers. He explained that inspectors in discovered some good and bad things about Red/
both primary and secondary lanes would expect their Green. " When the Commissioner asked about the
roving counterparts to find obvious lawbreakers, but bad, Henry said it seemed thai Customs was gelling
that any traveler who beat the profile system would be
away from baggage examination and getting more in
likely to be apprehended in a secondary lane. volved with profile selectivity. He explained that
might condition passengers to think that if they looked
innocent they can walk right through Customs. Wrap
ping up the round table discussion, Commissioner von
Raab thanked participants for their time and reminded
them that when it came to law enforcement they had
his full support.

CUSTOMS TODAY / WINTER 1984