By Staff Sgt. Jennifer K. Yancey
27th Public Affairs Detachment
LOGISTICS SUPPORT AREA ANACONDA, Balad, Iraq -- Few things color a deployment story better than showing off that "war trophy" discovered during one of your many exploits. You just know no one else has one like it, and you may never see the likes of it again. True -- but do not expect that sword in your duffle bag to ever see American soil.
Customs officials from the Naval Expeditionary Logistics Support Forces work around the clock to ensure that prohibited and restricted items found in Iraq, stay in Iraq.
Restricted items range from over-the-counter medications to war souvenirs (unless the individual obtained written approval from a reviewing official). Some prohibited items include alcoholic beverages; privately owned weapons; counterfeit coins, money, postage or revenue stamps; drugs/narcotics and drug paraphernalia; and personal effects of enemy soldiers.
As of April 15, cigarette lighters joined the growing list of prohibited articles.
U.S. Navy Lt. Thomas D. Appelbaum, A Company commander, NAVELSF, said Customs officials are responsible for the pre-clearance of personnel as well as personal bags and equipment.
At the Personnel Processing Center, travelers are escorted to the Customs tent and each directed to one of 18 unoccupied tables. Here personnel are briefed on prohibited and restricted items and referred to the amnesty area as a last-minute opportunity to get rid of unauthorized items.
Amnesty boxes help make honest people out of travelers. But if it still appears someone is blatantly trying to smuggle unauthorized items, said Appelbaum, they then get to spend some time with the Provost Marshal.
Still, most people are given the benefit of the doubt. "We want to make the process as painless as possible," he said. "They may honestly not have heard certain parts of the brief."
Personnel are then directed to empty the contents of their personal bag onto the table and await further instructions from a Customs Border Clearance Agent. Once that bag is cleared, it is repacked and placed on the side of the table. The same process applies for all subsequent bags.
Afterward the bags are palletized and personnel are redirected to a 'sterile" holding tent.
If anyone leaves the 'sterile" area, they will be subject to re-inspection, possibly causing further delay in reaching their flight.
There is always an unwitting few who still try to slip unauthorized items through the cracks. Assortments of prohibited items like pornographic materials, switchblades, plants, ammunition and smoke grenades become all-too familiar to Customs inspectors. Once Customs logs them in, Explosive Ordnance Disposal takes custody of the items, and disposes of them.
Among the most memorable confiscated items -- a rocket-propelled grenade launcher, and one civilian hand-carrying $10,000 cash.
"If you are carrying more than $10,000 you have to declare it," Appelbaum said.
Customs also conducts "container" missions throughout the LSA for larger numbers of personnel (redeploying units, for example). But it seems the larger the unit, the larger the items found during some searches.
"We find things every day," said Appelbaum.
The NAVELSF is the first Navy unit to assume the role of customs. Originally an Army mission, it was passed on to the Air Force for about a year. The Navy inherited the task in February.
These inspectors are not customs officials by trade, however. They represent various military occupational specialties trained for two- to two and a half months on the customs process prior to deployment.
It's not just people, however, that endure the rigors of inspections.
Likewise, vehicles and aircraft are not immune to search. Appelbaum warns they should come spotless -- free of earth, sand or soil to eliminate possible spread of disease through certain microorganisms found in soil and sand. Those that receive a "no-go" at this station are turned away for further cleaning and re-inspection.
Inspectors pinpoint all trouble spots and violators can correct those deficiencies right then and there, said Appelbaum. Although there is a quick turnaround period for correcting the deficiencies, they try to adhere to the unit's timeline.
Said Appelbaum, "We try to treat them like the heroes they are."
For more information regarding the dos and do nots at Customs on Logistics Support Area Anaconda, call DSN 443-7474. For general questions concerning the area of operations, contact the Coalition Forces Land Component Command liaison officer, at 430-6438. Air Force personnel can access information on the AF Intranet: http://blab-web-n.blab.aorcentaf.af.mil/Customs/Customs.htm
Editors Note: Staff Sgt. Yancey is a member of the 27th Public Affairs Detachment from Fort Drum, NY and is deployed to Iraq in support of units at LSA Anaconda.
| Date Taken: | 07.08.2005 |
| Date Posted: | 07.08.2005 13:49 |
| Story ID: | 2312 |
| Location: | BALAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 45 |
| Downloads: | 15 |
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