Overview of Military Police Customs Operations

CPT Marshall Sybert

MP Customs Information Brief

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

MP Customs Information Brief

• Purpose

To provide an information brief on Military

Police Customs.

MP Customs Information Brief

ReferencesAR 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 190–22 Searches, Seizures, and Disposition of Property.

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.

Overview

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

• 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

Overview

Terms and Definitions

An observation of personal property, DOD cargo, and

/ or the oral questioning of DOD sponsored

personnel.

Customs Inspection

Items that can be introduced into the United States

with approved documentation.

• Wine / Champaign • Rifles / Shotguns / Handguns• Tobacco / Tobacco Pipes etc…

Restricted Items

Items that can not be brought into the US under any

Circumstances.

• Wild Animals • Plants / Soil• Explosives

Prohibited Items

High Risk• Conducted on an individual based on information

from the soldier’s Chain of Command that he/she may be trying to smuggle contraband into the US.

• When MWD alerts on accompanied baggage.

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.

Types of Inspections

Exemption• A special privilege of freedom from customs

requirements.

Duty Free• Goods that are exempt from tax on import /

export.

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.

War Trophies• Weapons & explosives• US Army Center for Military History

– “historical significance”

Roles and Responsibilities

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.

Military Customs Inspectors

• Work with host nation to ensure both nation’s 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.

MP Customs 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.

Commander’s 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.

Commander’s Role

Customs Units and Transformation

42d MP Group 14th MP Brigade

560th MP Company

1990 2005USAREURStrength

213,000 60,000

CustomsStrength

590 100

CustomsCompanies

560

256193

285294

560

USAREUR’s CUSTOMS CAPABILITY

USAREUR Customs Transition

COMPANY HQ MANNHEIM

1ST PLT HQ - MANNHEIM Field Offices: Mannheim Heidelberg Stuttgart Vicenza2ND 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

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MP560

MPMP

MP

...

......

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MP

Office Locations

USDA Customs Clearance The entire EUCOM AOR

560th MP CO

PurposeReferencesOverviewTerms and DefinitionsRoles and Responsibilities UnitsSummaryQuestions

Summary

Questions?