Overview of Military Police Customs Operations

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MP Customs Information Brief

• Overview of Military Police Customs Operations
• CPT Marshall Sybert

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MP Customs Information Brief

• Outline
• Purpose
• References
• Overview
• Terms and Definitions
• Roles and Responsibilities
• Units
• Summary
• Questions

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MP Customs Information Brief

• Purpose
• To provide an information brief on Military
• Police Customs.

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References
AR 190-41 Customs Law Enforcement DoDD 5030.49
Customs and Border Clearance Program DoDD
4500.9-R Defense Transportation Regulation DoDD
5525.5 DoD Cooperation with Civilian Law
Enforcement Officials AR 19022 Searches,
Seizures, and Disposition of Property.
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Overview
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Overview

• Directed by the Department of Defense
• Military Customs are in place to ensure that
  prohibited/restricted items are not allowed to
  illegally enter the US
• Ensure host nation tax and currency laws are
  honored (black market).
• Military Customs inspectors can either be
  military or civilian personnel, and they work
  closely with the US Department of Agriculture.

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Overview

• All foreign theaters of operation in which US
  military personnel are assigned should have a US
  military customs program
• Can be a mission for any MP unit, normally, it is
  done by Law and Order Detachments

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Overview

• Inspection/clearing process includes equipment
  and personnel, normally set up at points of
  debarkation
• Customs inspectors may conduct investigations
  with host nation, other services or US federal
  agencies

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Terms and Definitions
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Customs Inspection

• An observation of personal property, DOD cargo,
  and
• / or the oral questioning of DOD sponsored
• personnel.

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Restricted Items

• Items that can be introduced into the United
  States
• with approved documentation.
• Wine / Champaign
• Rifles / Shotguns / Handguns
• Tobacco / Tobacco Pipes etc

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Prohibited Items

• Items that can not be brought into the US under
  any
• Circumstances.
• Wild Animals
• Plants / Soil
• Explosives

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Types of Inspections

• High Risk
• Conducted on an individual based on information
  from the soldiers Chain of Command that he/she
  may be trying to smuggle contraband into the US.
• When MWD alerts on accompanied baggage.

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Types of Inspections

• Low Risk / Random
• Mandated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
• A mandatory 3-10 percent of all passengers
  (excluding the high risk exams) is required by US
  Customs. This is an integrity check of the
  systems.

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• Exemption
• A special privilege of freedom from customs
  requirements.
• Duty Free
• Goods that are exempt from tax on import /
  export.

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• Sterile Area
• Enclosed or protected area where personnel,
  baggage, and/or cargo is held separated from
  unauthorized contact with plants, animals
  products, and pests.
• There is no longer an Amnesty Box.

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• War Trophies
• Weapons explosives
• US Army Center for Military History
• historical significance

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Roles and Responsibilities
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Military Customs Inspectors

• Customs Inspectors
• Officers / Warrant Officers
• MP of any rank
• Non-MP, E-4 and above
• DOD Civilians who are citizens of the US who are
  GS-5 or above.
• Pass US Customs approved training.

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MP Customs Role

• Work with host nation to ensure both nations
  customs and tax laws are protected.
• Assist U.S.Customs officials in ensuring
  integrity of U.S.Customs laws.
• Prevent the introduction of prohibited items and
  infestation of foreign organisms.

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Commanders Role

• Dissemination of information
• Critical for smooth and efficient customs
  processing of personnel and equipment.
• Responsibility of the chain of command that all
  information is disseminated to the most junior
  levels.
• This ensures the most expedient customs clearance.

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Commanders Role

• Pre-Customs Inspections
• Ensure numerous and unannounced health and
  welfare inspections are conducted.
• These inspections should also include equipment.
• Pre-Customs Prep
• Ensure that there are facilities available to
  pre-wash vehicles and equipment to facilitate the
  inspection by the inspectors.

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Customs Units and Transformation
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USAREUR Customs Transition
USAREURs CUSTOMS CAPABILITY
42d MP Group
14th MP Brigade
560th MP Company
1990
2005
USAREUR Strength
213,000
60,000
Customs Strength
590
100
Customs Companies
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560th MP CO
Office Locations
COMPANY HQ MANNHEIM 1ST PLT HQ - MANNHEIM
Field Offices Mannheim Heidelberg
Stuttgart Vicenza 2ND PLT HQ - HANAU Field
Offices Hanau Rhein-Main/Flughafen
Darmstadt Kitzingen Schweinfurt Giessen
3RD PLT HQ - KAISERSLAUTERN Field
Offices Kaiserslautern
Ramstein Baumholder
Wiesbaden 4TH PLT HQ -
BAMBERG Field Offices
Bamberg Hohenfels
Vilseck-Graf Ansbach
...
MP
MP
560

...
...
MP
...
MP
MP

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USDA Customs Clearance The entire EUCOM AOR
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Summary

• Purpose
• References
• Overview
• Terms and Definitions
• Roles and Responsibilities
• Units
• Summary
• Questions

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Questions?