Community Chat

[MorningLover]

Thankful for the CBP..

3/27

MEMPHIS: Officers assigned to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Area Port of Memphis seized nearly 2,000 counterfeit driver’s licenses and two fake passports at an express consignment facility over the past week.

The shipments originated from China and were being shipped to various destinations throughout the United States. Many of the shipments were smuggled in the bottom of boxes containing a single tassle, and were manifested as a Chinese knot.

The IDs were turned over to the Fraudulent Document Analysis Unit, who later determined them to be fake. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is continuing to investigate. Fake IDs are often sold on the black market for $250 - $500, often going to high school and college students, but they are also used by illegal aliens looking to gain entry into the United States.

“Some may think fake IDs are mostly associated with underaged drinking, but it’s much more than that,” said Michael Neipert, CBP Area Port of Memphis Director. “Fraudulent IDs can also be associated with identity theft and terrorist activity. With all the uncertainty currently facing our nation, it is inherent that CBP Memphis Officers/Agriculture specialists remain steadfast in securing the nation’s borders.” 

[Kachina624]

These things abound.  We had a border patrol agent come with his examples and give a talk to my work group once.  He had a ton of them and most were very good.

[MorningLover]

Never heard of Khat. Hope it's ok to post. I started reading CBP reports, one of the things to keep me entertained (and informed !)

This was headed to DC !

STERLING, Va. – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at Washington Dulles International Airport seized a significant khat load March 21 that shipped from Nigeria and was destined to an address in our nation’s capital.

Dulles CBP officers seized 147 pounds
of khat destined to Washington, D.C.

While examining air cargo that arrived aboard an Etihad Airways flight from Abu Dhabi, UAE, March 5, CBP officers inspected a shipment from Lagos, Nigeria manifested as clothes and dried camellia sinensis, which is organic green tea leaves. When officers opened the shipment, they discovered three boxes that contained dried leaves concealed in silver bags and black plastic bags.

A CBP agriculture specialist initially determined the leaves to be khat. Officers then submitted samples to a U.S. Department of Agriculture botanist, who reported March 20 that the leaves were Catha Edulis, commonly known as khat.

The total weight of the khat was 66.78 kilograms, or 147 pounds, four ounces. The khat has a street value of about $20,000. It was destroyed.

Khat is typically grown in East Africa and the Arabian Peninsula and is chewed for its stimulant effect. The World Health Organization classified khat as a drug of abuse in 1980.

On average, customs officials seized an average of 3,707 pounds of dangerous drugs every day across the U.S. last year.

[Mz iMac]

"and two fake passports"

Only 2?  Yeah, right.