What comes to mind when you think of The United States Customs Service? For all of you who have traveled outside the United States, you might remember the Customs inspectors asking people questions about what they have brought back into the country. Some of you may just remember routine questions between connecting flights; others may recall trained narcotics detection dogs or intensive baggage searches. Whatever your memory, the U.S. Customs Service was conducting an important national security function - working to ensure that harmful importations do not enter the country to the detriment of our health and safety.   The U.S. Customs Service is one of the oldest agencies of the federal government, predating even its parent organization, the Department of Treasury, and has evolved over time into its national security role. The Customs Service was actually chartered to serve as a primary revenue source of the United States. After declaring its independence in 1776, the United States, as a struggling young nation found itself close to bankruptcy. Responding to the urgent need for revenue, the First Congress passed and President George Washington signed the Tariff Act of July 4, 1789, which authorized the collection of duties on imported goods. Four weeks later, on July 31, the fifth act of Congress established Customs and its port of entry.   For nearly 125 years, Customs funded almost the entire government, and paid for the nation’s early growth and infrastructure. The territories of Louisiana and Oregon, Florida and Alaska were purchased; the National Road from Cumberland, Maryland to Wheeling, West Virginia, was constructed; and, the Transcontinental Railroad stretched from sea-to-sea. Customs collections built the nation’s lighthouses; the U.S. military and naval academies; the City of Washington; and, the list goes on. The new nation that was once on the edge of bankruptcy was now solvent. By 1835, Customs revenues alone had reduced the national debt to zero!   Times have changed and although the Customs Service continues its collection function, having brought in $22.3 billion in 1996, the Internal Revenue Service collections have long remained the primary source of federal revenue. The Customs Service most important responsibilities have moved to the area of law enforcement.   The mission of the U.S. Customs Service is to ensure that all goods and persons entering and exiting the United States do so in accordance with all U.S. laws and regulations. The mission includes: enforcing U.S. laws interdicting narcotics and other contraband; protecting the American public and environment from the introduction of prohibited hazardous and noxious products; assessing and collecting revenues in the form of duties, taxes, and fees on imported merchandise; regulating the movement of persons, carriers, merchandise, and commodities between the United States and other nations while facilitating the movement of all legitimate cargo, carriers, travelers, and mail; interdicting narcotics and other contraband; and enforcing certain provisions of the export control laws of the United States. So, what happens when an importer brings inappropriate merchandise into the U.S.? The Customs Service will seize merchandise that a traveler or importer attempts to import in violation of U.S. law. The Customs Service acts as an enforcement arm at U.S. borders, ports of entry and mail locations on behalf of over 40 agencies of the U.S. Government, including the Food & Drug Administration (FDA), the Departments of Commerce, State, Defense, and Treasury, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and many others.   Some merchandise seized is prohibited (narcotics, hazardous materials), and some is merely restricted (subject to trade embargoes such as those against Iran, North Korea, Cuba, etc.). Some merchandise is seized due to violation of entry requirements (failure to declare, false valuation to reduce duty, etc.). Some is seized to secure payment of a penalty.   The U.S. Customs Service offers a program called the U.S. Customs Service Explorer program which provides opportunities for young adults, ages 14 to 21, to engage in federal law enforcement related activities within the various fields of the Customs Service. The program is a division of the Boy Scouts of America. For more information, check out the Web site: http://www.customs.ustreas.gov/about/custexpl.htm   Click here to find out about an interesting job as a U.S. Customs Canine Enforcement Team (Meet the dog!) Home Journey Log Trade Topics People Profiles Index Ask the Eagle