crossing the US-Mexico border.

[rAJJIN]

October 2002
Why Is He Typing In My License Plate Number?
US Customs, created a computer database system in the late 1980's that links every kiosk in every Port of Entry, together so that information could be shared instantly. The computer system was dubbed "Tecs II" and the information collected is categorized, and filed by regional headquarters, and finally information is edited by US Customs (which is a department of the Treasury) in Washington DC.

By noting the time, and place of your entry "Big Brother" can later review this data to see if perhaps a strange or odd pattern emerges. If for instance a Missouri automobile repeatedly enters the US between two and four AM at various entry points and does it often enough, a little "checkmark" is put alongside the vehicle on the screen (actually it is an innocuous sounding "yes") and upon the next entry it would be sent to secondary so that the riddle can be resolved. License numbers of stolen cars are entered into the database and if the car is "flagged" then secondary personnel are forewarned that the vehicle may be hot. As an aside if your car is -ever- stolen in the states and you recover it and then subsequently decide to go to Mexico get a letter from your District Attorney's Office stating that the vehicle was recovered and returned to you. It matters not if the vehicle is registered to John Doe, and Customs finds John Doe driving it, the only instrument that will get you on the road quickly is that letter from the D.A. (the foregoing tip was earned through the school of hard knocks).


What is Secondary Inspsection
Also random cars are "flagged" to go through secondary inspection regardless of what the driver declares or stated as his destination in Mexico. It's best to resign yourself to fifteen minutes of dumb questions and suspicious stares. All Customs Agents want to graduate and become a "Special Agent" and a shortcut on this pathway to the elite ranks is to ferret out a shipment of contraband that the system might have otherwise overlooked. I answer with simple "yes" and "no" answers while realizing that one of the techniques used is to keep the person being suspected off guard. The Golden Rule of US Customs Inspection is to never show the same face twice.

Here's a sample of a rather intense (Screening) interview (Which would take place in secondary):

"What are you smuggling from Mexico today?"

"Are you really, really, sure that's all you want to declare?"

"What would you say if I told you that we're looking for a car just like yours that was reported to have marijuana inside"

"Do you know that you can be fined two thousand dollars on the spot here today for lying?"

"Now would you mind telling me again where exactly you've been in Mexico and exactly how long you've been outside of the United States?"

"I've inspected a lot of cars and I never see stuff stacked like you've got there unless you're trying to hide something"

Yes I know the above sounds rude, and yes it is a little unsettling to have to go through it. But an intense secondary inspection like the above is almost traumatic if you've had no warning about what to expect. I figure roughly that every two hundred entries will result in a vigorous question and answer session.

The reason that US Customs uses this approach is that they often find drugs and contraband that only an inspection like this can turn up. They figure that ninety percent of the illegal drugs that enters the US is hidden in vehicles that look innocent. And as long as stupid people continue to get busted in those secondary inspections, then the Agents will continue to use "screening" as an option for inspection.


Now for the type of entry conversation that is most likely to happen:

"What are you bringing from Mexico today?"

"Are you a US citizen?"

"Have a nice day"

[rAJJIN]

The light touch is standard for steroids dealers. According to Federal Sentencing Guidelines used to determine punishment for drug offenders, judges are required to calculate 50 tablets of steroids (or 10 milliliters of the injectible form) as one dosage unit -- a high standard that makes all but the largest of distributors exempt from jail time.

The difficulty in putting traffickers behind bars, in turn, has led some federal prosecutors to conclude that steroids cases are not worth the time and money. Of the 443 seizures of steroids last year at the San Ysidro port of entry north of Tijuana, only 20 cases were picked up by prosecutors, according to Gregory Vega, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of California.

"There's only a limited amount of resources, prosecutorial resources," said Vega, who oversees the busiest district in the federal court system.

Most other smugglers are dealt with administratively, especially those caught with personal amounts of steroids. Customs typically confiscates the drugs and orders a fine, and no arrest is made.

Local prosecutors also struggle with what to do with steroids cases. Paul Pfingst, district attorney of San Diego County, said the drugs get little attention in his office because they rarely cause users to commit crimes against other people, as can be the case with other drugs of addiction.

"An addict is someone who does not have control over their life," Pfingst said. "You don't have that with steroids. You don't see anyone knocking over a liquor store to buy steroids."

[Maverick25]

Well I have personally crossed into mexico many times and back across into the US, both with and without gear in my car. 95% of the time the customs officers just ask you what your citizenship is and what you have to declare, but I have been " flagged " before and asked to pull into a bay to be searched and they do try to ask you alot of bullshit questions. They'll ask you the same questions 5 or 6 times in a different order to ry to trip you up. All you got to do is stay cool, not look nervous or guilty and just answer the quaestions. Try to be as truthful as possible without giving away you have gear.

i once got asked how many times I have been to mexico in the past year and I truthfully told the customs agent likr 12 or so and I plan to come back next month too. he looked at me dumbfounded. They can bring in the k-9's to smell the car but gear doesn't have any scent so don't worry about that. Just make sure your gear his hidden well, becuase if they search your car, they really search it. The last time I was down there I gave the customs agents who searched my car a nice dissertation on how steroids are not as bad as people think and how the only reason they are illegal is politics, becuase they were legal until 1990. I had no gear in my car so I wasn't nervous or anything but I just told them how it is becuase without any gear to catch you with they have to let you go.

Just amke sure you don't hide gear in the trunk, engine, or anywhere underneath the car because those are the prime places they check. Take this from a mex pharmacy owner. I know my shit when it comes to this. Also the part about the computer is correct they do record your licesnse plate so it is best to rotate cars every trip or at least every other trip.


Also there are certain times of the day that are better times to corss than other, but I ma not gonna say when.hehehehehe.


maverick

[BUFFDADDY]

The last time I crossed from Laredo, my car was tagged for secondary inspection. They went through the entire car, pulled out all my luggage, and then when they could not find anything they got the dog to come sniff my car. After they were finished, they said that I could leave.
I asked them if they were going to put all my shit back in the car, and they just walked away.