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Contraband: Seized at the Airport - Season 2 - Episode 02: No Gun Intended
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00:1425 million passengers arrive at newark liberty airport every year thank you where are you coming
00:21from how long were you there for four days okay come with me you're gonna do a back exam on
00:27the
00:27front line hundreds of vigilant customs and border protection officers are trained to prevent anything
00:34dangerous from entering the US so I'm gonna check in your bags just look at me while I do it
00:40okay
00:40just step back okay today a British traveler has been referred for questioning after a search
00:47revealed a suspicious object in a suitcase it's some sort of a device
00:58does he have credentials or anything like that with his employment he didn't say anything no
01:10officer Kokoro runs it through the x-ray
01:17a pump of some kind
01:21there's a firearm inside of the pump officers waste no time detaining the owner
01:33okay cool
01:43this is yours right
01:52oh my god you are having me on you don't know about this I most certainly do not
02:02it's a handgun
02:07okay so stand up face the wall right over there
02:14hands behind your back separate your feet a little bit
02:23anything in the bags that stick me poke me cut me hurt me by any chance we're up against a
02:27clock
02:28we're looking for anybody that's not declaring and there's gonna be a lot
02:32telling me what about the
02:36I'm no deaf
03:00Passport?
03:01Yes.
03:03With nearly a million flights
03:05and over 160 million passengers every year.
03:09Okay, where are you coming from, sir?
03:11From here.
03:13JFK is one of the busiest commercial airports
03:15in North America.
03:18It is a very big airport.
03:19It can get crazy.
03:21We have a lot of international flights,
03:24countries that travel through here,
03:26and a lot goes on.
03:28Next.
03:31So you are conditionally approved for global entry.
03:34If you want to do the interview now, you can.
03:37It's going to be all the way down
03:38through the double-white door.
03:39Originally, I wanted to be a nurse.
03:42And after starting, it showed me a different side
03:46of things that I liked and enjoyed,
03:49leadership and hands-on and protecting our people.
03:54You're all set.
03:56Have a good one.
03:57Next.
03:59Today, the Passenger Enforcement Intelligence Team
04:03is waiting for three American women returning from the UK
04:07who are suspected of smuggling cannabis.
04:12Hey, guys, just have your passports out
04:13and just line up in two lines, okay?
04:16At the top of the jet bridge,
04:18Officer Satili spots the suspects disembarking
04:21and keeps a close watch, but doesn't make contact yet.
04:25Right now, they're already on the phone,
04:27making separate phone calls, aggravated,
04:31look a little disgruntled, but we'll see.
04:33We'll see what happens.
04:35After several minutes of observation,
04:37he makes an approach and baggage claim.
04:40How are you doing today?
04:41You're upstairs, right?
04:42What we were just doing?
04:43Did I see you upstairs?
04:44On the flight?
04:45Where are you coming from today?
04:46Oh, man, check bags.
04:48Man, check bags?
04:48How many check bags you got?
04:50Huh?
04:50How many check bags you have?
04:52Check bags?
04:52Yeah, yeah, yeah.
04:53You have no check bags?
04:54No.
04:54Okay, perfect.
04:55You travel with anybody else?
04:57Yes, they're behind you.
04:58Oh, they're behind you?
04:59Okay, all right, perfect.
05:00So we'll walk right over here real quick.
05:02The traveler is taken to secondary inspection.
05:05All right, so the base is very simple.
05:06We're just going to do a baggage exam.
05:08I'm going to ask you a couple of questions about your trip,
05:10what you guys did over there.
05:12It's a baggage exam.
05:13Who's doing it all day long?
05:14Ain't nothing special about it.
05:15While Officer Satili focuses on the first woman,
05:19her two companions are also questioned.
05:22Let me just help this out.
05:23Okay.
05:24You can't use a cigar, huh?
05:25Okay, it's big.
05:26Yeah, it's big.
05:30So real quick, all these bags are yours?
05:32Yes, sir.
05:33All right, packed them all yourself?
05:35Huh?
05:35You packed them all yourself?
05:36Yes.
05:36All right, any food, alcohol, tobacco?
05:38No?
05:39Okay.
05:41That's what happens, yeah.
05:42I didn't stop, yeah.
05:43I was there waiting.
05:44Oh.
05:49As he searches her hand luggage,
05:51the woman continues showing signs of agitation.
05:56But her bags are clear of cannabis.
05:59Okay.
06:00All right, so real quick, I'm just going to write down some stuff real quick.
06:05Okay, so right now you're coming from where again?
06:08Manchester.
06:08Manchester, right?
06:10All right.
06:11Manchester.
06:12And you were there for how long?
06:13Like three days.
06:15Three days?
06:15All right.
06:17Did you go anywhere else?
06:18Uh, went to...
06:26Okay, Spain.
06:27I went to Spain too.
06:29And in Spain, you stayed how long?
06:34Uh...
06:36I have no idea.
06:37Like, I don't know.
06:38But how long was your whole trip about?
06:39How long were you out for your whole trip?
06:41About five days.
06:41About five days?
06:42Yes.
06:43Five days.
06:43I'm jet-lagged.
06:44It's fine.
06:45Okay.
06:46Where did you stay at in Spain?
06:49I don't remember anything.
06:52I don't remember anything.
06:53I don't mind anything.
06:54I got you.
06:56Um...
06:58That's about it.
06:59Okay.
07:01Okay.
07:04All right.
07:05All right, cool.
07:06Uh...
07:06Just give me two minutes.
07:10Although the women's bags are clear of contraband, their whirlwind trip suggests they could have
07:15been transporting cannabis abroad.
07:18People lie for all different kinds of reasons.
07:21Um...
07:21Sometimes, you know, they cheat on sniffing another.
07:24Sometimes they went out to do stuff they don't want you to know about.
07:27High-potency U.S.-grown cannabis, known as Caliweed, is in global demand.
07:33Fetching up to three times the price of standard weed on the black market.
07:37You know, the U.S. now is the source country for marijuana throughout the world.
07:42Europe, everywhere, Dominican Republic, it goes everywhere.
07:44So, right now, we're just gonna do a double check to see if they did leave with checked bags.
07:48If they did, it's a big indication they probably had something like marijuana inside those bags,
07:53where it's also valued very high outside of the U.S.
07:56So, we're gonna check that first, and if they have more bags there,
08:00it's almost a guarantee that's what the whole purpose of the trip was.
08:03If officers can prove the group returned with fewer bags than they took,
08:08it may be evidence of smuggling.
08:29At Newark, officers have detained a British traveler who's been found with an unusual device in a suitcase.
08:37Oh, my God. You are having me on.
08:40You don't know about this?
08:41I am most certain. Do not.
08:43Concealing what appears to be a firearm.
08:46Sir, stand up. Face the wall right over there.
08:49Hands behind your back. Separate your feet a little bit.
08:51As well as claiming no knowledge of the gun, the traveler explains he's come to the U.S.
08:57All right, sit down.
08:57For an aviation conference.
09:00So, you said you never opened that before?
09:02I have never opened that box.
09:06So, what do you use it for?
09:09So, it's a training device that shows pilots how much force they need to apply to pull a hangar in
09:16an aircraft.
09:17Where have you traveled to with this device?
09:20I have traveled around here.
09:22And roughly how many times have you traveled with it?
09:28Many times.
09:29Many times.
09:32Officers now need to determine if they are dealing with a working firearm.
09:36If you press down on this, it seems to look like it's going to fire off if you press that.
09:42It seems to wear us, but if you definitely pull, it's going to fire.
09:45Yeah.
09:48I was aware that when you pull the handle, it made a clicking noise.
09:53And I assume that there is some kind of spring or resistance device inside of it.
09:58Okay.
10:01Okay, let's just take this out for a second.
10:05Almost 7,000 firearms are intercepted at U.S. airports every year.
10:10Without the correct permits and safe storage, they are illegal.
10:15While officers further examine the device, Officer Guzman drills down on the traveler's story.
10:22I'm just wondering.
10:24You never, like, was curious to open it and see anything, no?
10:30Not in the slices.
10:32That's amazing.
10:33Not in the slightest.
10:34Not in the slightest.
10:35Not in the slightest.
10:36No curiosity at all.
10:38I have a very busy life.
10:39I've got lots of other priorities.
10:41And this isn't moving.
10:43I was sold a complete item that worked.
10:49And I had no curiosity about what was in the box.
10:52What's up?
10:53What's up?
10:54I'm seeing what happens.
10:57Despite the man's pleas of innocence, officers aren't convinced.
11:02I think he knew the device was in there.
11:05He was a little flabbergasted at first, but it seemed like there was an excess force reaction to his behavior.
11:11I think he was just surprised that he was caught, honestly.
11:15If officers can prove the traveler is carrying a viable firearm, he could be facing criminal charges.
11:23It's blocked off right now.
11:25The question is whether you can get that out.
11:28It looks like it could be screwed up.
11:49At JFK Airport...
11:51Where did you stay at in Spain?
11:54I don't remember anything.
11:57Officers are questioning three suspected cannabis smugglers.
12:01The woman who planned the trip appears nervous.
12:06I got you.
12:09And all three took only carry-on luggage for a five-day trip to Europe.
12:14Officer Sotilli contacts his supervisor.
12:18I went all over to Madrid, over to London, and then coming back from Manchester.
12:25It's feeling like an outbound to me.
12:29So...
12:31All right.
12:34I'm waiting to see the results for the outbound, to see what bags went out, because I have a strong
12:38feeling that something went outbound on the flight.
12:41Stop.
12:43Stop.
12:44Stop.
12:45While the flight records are checked, a female officer searches the first woman, who is displaying some unusual behavior.
12:53Have you always thought to her?
12:55Yeah.
12:56No, when I be on my...
12:57What does she say?
12:58What does she tell me you're not?
12:59When she tell me?
12:59She used to be like...
13:00No, she's not telling me anything, because I told her to stand out there.
13:02Stand out there?
13:03Okay.
13:04Because she's not coming up here with me.
13:05Stand out there.
13:06Okay.
13:07Because she don't want to watch my stuff.
13:08I was going to leave her at that, but she didn't want to watch.
13:10Inside the room, the woman tells the officer she has an imaginary friend.
13:15Do you take any medication?
13:17No, ma'am.
13:17No medications?
13:18Okay, ma'am.
13:20Nothing at all?
13:21No.
13:21It's okay.
13:22I think it's the first time I've heard someone say that they have an imaginary friend.
13:27Yes.
13:27How do you know that it's imaginary?
13:29Usually you don't.
13:30I think it's the first time I've heard that.
13:31It's the first time, right?
13:33Yeah?
13:34Experience tells the officers that her behavior is nothing more than a diversion tactic.
13:39That was good?
13:40Okay.
13:41All right.
13:46Everything's like a joke to her.
13:48This is a joke.
13:49This is a joke.
13:50Everything's a joke to her.
13:51From afar, when no one's over, she's not saying anything.
13:54As soon as you get a little closer, she starts talking to herself.
13:56Yeah, and she told me that she's like, she's doing this on purpose.
13:59So...
13:59After further investigation, Officer Satili's suspicions are confirmed.
14:04The woman checked in a suitcase on her flight to the UK.
14:08But with that suitcase now missing, there's no proof of smuggling.
14:13We don't feel like narcotics severe.
14:14We checked the bags negative.
14:16We checked the pat-down negative.
14:18And they're demeaning right now.
14:19There's no nervous behavior between all three of them.
14:21So we're going to let them go and move on to the next one.
14:24We were just talking to your friends for a few minutes.
14:25Everything's all done.
14:26Good to go.
14:27Have a nice day, okay?
14:29You're well.
14:30She's going to travel again, she said, in the next few weeks.
14:32So the next time they travel out,
14:34we'll have our outbound team go and conduct the baggage exam
14:38if she has any baggage going outbound.
14:40With the group now known to CBP officers,
14:43any future attempt to smuggle drugs could be their last.
15:1115 million passengers arrive at San Francisco airport every year.
15:22I know a little bit of, like, just the airport Spanish, the basic.
15:27Many frequent flyers are enrolled in the Global Entry Program,
15:31which allows pre-approved travelers to bypass regular customs lanes,
15:36saving them hours.
15:38No purses, no jewelry, nothing bought in France.
15:41No, I didn't buy any earrings.
15:43How much were the earrings?
15:45Oh, I don't know, my husband gave it to me two years ago.
15:48Oh, oh, oh, but you didn't buy anything from...
15:50No, no, no.
15:50Oh, okay, okay.
15:51Have a good day.
15:52Have a good one.
15:53It's a contract of trust.
15:55In return for being prioritized,
15:58they're expected to declare any purchases made abroad over $800.
16:03But not everyone does.
16:06Today, Officer Moore is checking a flight arriving from Paris, France.
16:11We have a lot of people from those flights who don't declare anything they purchased,
16:14so we're just looking out for them.
16:17People, they like to go abroad and, like, go to, you know, high-end stores.
16:20The high-end items, they are common.
16:23A married couple, both with global entry status,
16:27have been referred to secondary for a spot check.
16:31We declare, even if it's less, we just, if you bought new bags, new anything,
16:35we just always ask anything to declare.
16:37Yeah, so we...
16:38Oh, my God, this sounds like an interrogation.
16:40Oh, no.
16:41We have just kids...
16:42We have one scarf and kids stuff.
16:45Okay.
16:46All right.
16:46We're gonna go through this one over here.
16:47Oh, grandson.
16:48Okay, go ahead.
16:49She's gonna help you guys out.
16:53Okay, so I'm just gonna have you guys fill this out.
16:58Having declared only one high-value item, a scarf,
17:03Officer Moore asks the woman to put it in writing.
17:07Finished?
17:09Mm-hmm.
17:10Mm-hmm.
17:12Lying on a customs declaration form is a federal offense.
17:16Okay, ma'am, so this is everything that you're gonna declare?
17:19This is everything that you purchased on your trip?
17:21Yes.
17:22Did you purchase anything else?
17:23No.
17:24Okay.
17:25Um, are you sure?
17:27Yes.
17:28Okay.
17:28So, um, since you are declaring some items,
17:31we do have to do a baggage exam,
17:33so we are gonna examine your bags.
17:35Okay.
17:36Come over here and bring them over, okay?
17:38Officer Yanis arrives to assist with the search.
17:41This is a little scary.
17:43It is?
17:44Scary?
17:44No, it's not.
17:46Well, why do you say that?
17:47You guys know you guys are being responsible.
17:49Like you did something, like, wrong.
17:51No, but you haven't done anything wrong, right?
17:53So there's nothing to be worried about.
17:56The scarf that you purchased, um, how much did you pay for it?
18:00Do you have a receipt for that?
18:00No.
18:03Initially, she declared that she had one scarf and children's toys.
18:07Um, as soon as I opened the bag, there were absolutely no children's toys.
18:10So I knew that there was something off immediately at that point.
18:13And that's not the only thing that captures the officer's attention.
18:17I see you have a bracelet.
18:18Did you purchase that on your trip as well?
18:20You can look through this.
18:21This is 20 years old.
18:23It's, it's, uh, it's been...
18:2620 years old?
18:27Yeah.
18:27It's been sent to the repair shop twice.
18:30I would like to see, actually, if you don't mind.
18:32Let me see.
18:34What is it?
18:34What kind of bracelet is this?
18:37Officer Giannis suspects the bracelet is a new luxury brand.
18:43Yeah.
18:44Okay.
18:49Okay.
18:50Here, I'll give you this back.
18:51Give me one second, okay?
18:55An online search reveals the luxury scarf costs over $1,000.
19:01It also confirms the price of the woman's jewelry.
19:05I believe she's wearing one of the bracelets.
19:07Okay.
19:08So it's probably the most expensive one, that $29,000 bracelet.
19:12It doesn't look like it's 20 years old.
19:14No, it doesn't.
19:15That's $30,000 of purchases they have potentially failed to declare.
19:22Okay, can I have you come over here with me, please?
19:25If found to be lying, the couple could have their preferred travel status
19:29was canceled and the goods seized.
19:48How you doing, sir?
19:49Hey, where you coming from today?
19:50Uh, from Canada.
19:51All right, may I please see your passport?
19:53At Newark International Airport.
19:56I'm just wondering.
19:58You never, like, I was curious to open it and see anything, you know?
20:03You're not in your slices.
20:05Officers are questioning a British man found carrying a device which contains what appears to be a firearm.
20:26They're trying to find out if it's a functional gun to see if it can cause any dangers.
20:31They gotta see if it has a VIN number that match, uh, on our systems.
20:37He stated that he had never opened a box before.
20:39I mean, it's a real hard to believe.
20:42Uh, it's, it's, at some point, you, you, you have to know what you have.
20:47Once this clicks this thing here, the safety goes back.
20:56Officers determine that with minor alterations, the weapon could be operational.
21:01Yet, the traveller sticks to his story.
21:03I, I, I honestly don't know what to say.
21:05I honestly don't know what to say.
21:07I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, my levels of disappointment with the people that manufactured that for him is extremely high up
21:16here.
21:18They, they should have told me.
21:21They should have fear.
21:23Unbelievable.
21:24Unbelievable.
21:27You couldn't make this happen.
21:32With the suspected firearm secured for evidence.
21:39The man will be handed over to Homeland Security Investigations.
21:44His punishment, a potential of five years in prison, or a minimum five-year ban from entering the U.S.
21:56So far, this is by far the most unique experience I've had at CBP.
22:03As of right now, there's a strong possibility that he will be sent back home.
22:07We're here to protect the people of the United States, the people that are, that are on the street, and
22:12getting a firearm off the street is the most important thing that we could be doing.
22:20Grab a seat, sir.
22:21All right.
22:23All right.
22:26All right.
22:29All right.
22:43In San Francisco, officers Yannis and Moore suspect a couple is using their global entry
22:49status to sneak through designer purchases from Paris, worth more than the allowed $800.
22:57Their search has already revealed a $1,000 scarf and jewelry worth $29,000, which the
23:04woman claims is old.
23:06So these two here are the bracelets, okay?
23:09We know that they were purchased during the trip.
23:12Any new goods worth more than $800 must be declared and duty tax paid.
23:19Officer Yannis wants to know what else the woman hasn't owned up to.
23:23Is this cotton?
23:24Do we know the material?
23:27It is whatever it is.
23:29You never checked?
23:31Okay.
23:35It's this.
23:37It's used.
23:39Okay.
23:41So it's a small leather wallet.
23:43You have a pen, serum?
23:45I'm not, it's not even leather.
23:47What kind is it?
23:48Plastic.
23:48Plastic.
23:52Okay.
23:53Common red flag that I see all the time is someone telling me that that item that I'm looking
23:58at right now, clearly brand new is old, or it's dirty, or it's cheap.
24:04That thing isn't cheap.
24:05It's real.
24:06It's new.
24:07It's not, it's not $10.
24:10So all in total, we got $39,000.
24:15By the end of the search, Officer Yannis has found more items worth a further $10,000.
24:22Math petition in the building, my bad.
24:25Not me.
24:26I don't know who that is.
24:27The final value of the undeclared items is $40,000.
24:31And now, the couple faces a fine.
24:36Supervisor Orange breaks the news.
24:40This is too big of a month to just give you a warning.
24:43We gave you opportunities when you approached.
24:45Hey, what do you have?
24:46You said a scarf, right?
24:47And then we gave you another opportunity here to amend your declaration, which you failed
24:51to do.
24:52So we will be canceling your global interview.
24:55We both get affected for this?
24:56Yes.
24:56Because we both were the people that we asked you those questions to, right?
24:59Unfortunately, these are the consequences, right?
25:02Forever.
25:03You've never had a global interview again because you failed to be placed.
25:06Right?
25:07Right.
25:07This time, the couple is allowed to keep the items and pay $2,400 in duty.
25:14But their days of bypassing regular customs checks are over.
25:19It did seem like she was trying to deceive us.
25:21She should know that under declaring any type of merchandise would probably result in either
25:27a penalty or a seizure.
25:29Have a good day, guys.
25:30Have a good one.
25:30Take care.
25:33Good job.
25:35Good job.
25:36Look at you all.
25:38Look at you all.
25:39Look at you all.
25:40Look at you all.
25:43Look at you all.
25:46Look at you all.
25:48Look at you all.
25:51Look at you all.
25:51Look at you all.
25:51Look at you all.
25:52Look at you all.
25:55Look at you all.
25:55Look at you all.
25:56Look at you all.
25:57Look at you all.
25:57Look at you all.
25:58Look at you all.
25:58Look at you all.
25:59Look at you all.
26:00Look at you all.
26:00Look at you all.
26:01Look at you all.
26:02Look at you all.
26:05Look at you all.
26:06Thousands of people from around the globe are caught trying to enter the U.S. to work illegally.
26:19Hoping to fly under the radar, they enter on tourist visas.
26:28At Detroit International Airport, officers Mala and Feldhaus have selected a passenger from the Netherlands
26:35for a luggage search after her travel history raised a red flag.
26:39She's a frequent traveler, so we have to verify what she does here.
26:44The woman told officers in primary that she's a fountain pen maker by trade, but here on vacation.
26:54Why are you bringing all this?
26:56This sounds more like work.
27:01I also have to do, like, admin work when I'm...
27:05What's your occupation?
27:06You told the premier officer that you also do the pen.
27:09Yeah, so I make parts for the pen.
27:12You make parts from...
27:13Yeah.
27:14...for home?
27:15Yes, I have a workbench at home.
27:18This is one of the nips that I make.
27:20They're called nips.
27:21Making custom fountain pens is a multimillion-dollar industry, catering to wealthy buyers.
27:28Are these the ones that you make?
27:30A twist.
27:31This is a twist?
27:32A twist.
27:32I'm the capitalist stuff.
27:35So if I went to a trip and I'm going there for fun, let's say if I went to visit
27:39your country,
27:40I wouldn't bring my work stuff.
27:42Right.
27:42Like, you're bringing everything for work.
27:44So this is an indication that you are here to do some kind of work.
27:48Uh, so people ask what I do, and then I like to...
27:52When I go vacation, I don't go to tell people what I do.
27:55I go vacation.
27:56Each pen retails at over $2,000.
28:00Despite claiming to be a tourist, the contents of the woman's bags are telling a different story.
28:06You're here to work.
28:07That's where we're at.
28:08We're not even here.
28:09We're not here to play games.
28:10Do you understand how this looks?
28:11You're here to work.
28:12I understand, but I'm not getting paid for anything.
28:14I didn't say that you're getting paid.
28:16I asked you if you're here to do any kind of business or any kind of work.
28:22What are these?
28:24This is the microscope.
28:26So that's a big, heavy bar.
28:28We're done.
28:29Microscopes are a crucial tool for fountain pen makers when carrying out detailed work.
28:35Officer Mala suspects the woman is planning to trade with American clients.
28:40Okay.
28:41You've got to start being honest now.
28:43Okay.
28:43Because I do not understand why you're bringing all work items and you claim that you're here for fun.
28:49What are you here to do?
28:51I sell products.
28:52I sell them from Europe, and I sell them globally.
28:55But I don't, I'm not here to like sell things in person.
29:01Because you're bringing all your work items, your story kind of doesn't make sense.
29:05I'm going to do an electronic media exam on your phone.
29:10I'm going to read your emails.
29:12Whatever is in the phone right now, I'm going to read.
29:15So is there anything else that you haven't told me about?
29:18So I attend stores, and I show off the things that I do.
29:23So you physically go on these shows, have a tent, a table.
29:27I have a table, and people can look at my work and see the kind of things that I make,
29:31and I display things.
29:32And you're also doing the trade show, you also sell your stuff in there?
29:36Do you have things at the show?
29:38Okay.
29:38People can see what I make, and then I have a wait list.
29:41So the wait list is not...
29:42What is the wait list for?
29:43So I know whether people are interested.
29:46And so nobody gives me money at the trade show.
29:50Pack your stuff and meet me over there.
29:53Yeah.
29:55Okay, pack your stuff and meet me over there.
29:57The problem with her, once you do something hands-on in here, it's considered labor, and you would need a
30:02work visa.
30:04If officers can prove that Traveler is planning to make and sell luxury pens, she could face a fine and
30:12be permanently banned from entering the U.S.
30:29JFK Airport is the biggest international mail facility in the U.S.
30:35As a gateway to North America, it handles a million packages every day.
30:41All right, Jared, if you want to run that one more time.
30:45Keeping Customs and Border Protection officers on high alert for smuggled contraband.
30:52When I started working here, I realized that we are the first and the last line of defense.
30:58So they're going to...
30:59Give that a look.
31:01All right.
31:02Every seizure that we have, every drug that we stop, every firearm that we stop, the satisfaction becomes not because
31:10we get paid,
31:11but it's because the life, the countless life that we are saving here in the United States.
31:19Today, Officer Cisneros is on the lookout for shipments of a black market pharmaceutical, arriving from the U.K.
31:27So let's go and find out what we have, what will be the catch-off today.
31:44This seems to be a vacuum cleaner.
31:48Nothing here makes me believe there is anything hiding.
31:52You can see the inside of the machine, which is very clear.
31:57Everything is transparent.
32:01They keep an eye out.
32:13For any illicit packages hidden among them.
32:17There's something wrong with this bag.
32:19It doesn't give me a clear picture of what it is.
32:31Okay, do me a favor.
32:33I want that to put on the side, please.
32:34Yeah, that will be inspected.
32:36That's kind of different from the rest of it.
32:41A second package also raises suspicions.
32:45Both have been shipped from the U.K.
32:49So I'm going to send it back again.
32:52Because it doesn't look good at all.
32:57Okay, so just put that one on the side for me, please.
33:00With the packages singled out for inspection,
33:05Officer Cisneros proceeds with caution.
33:12We don't know what the boxes are.
33:14We don't know if it can get contaminated.
33:17And we have here.
33:23Wow.
33:25I have, um,
33:28white powder.
33:33At this moment, I'm going to stop
33:35my B-Fentanyl.
33:36I'm going to gear up,
33:38have a mask,
33:38and change my gloves,
33:40and try to test it
33:41without opening the package
33:42and find out what it is.
33:56In Detroit,
33:58officers are questioning
33:59a fountain pen maker
34:00who claims to be entering the U.S. on vacation.
34:03What are those?
34:05This is the microscope.
34:06But her suitcases are full
34:08of equipment and merchandise.
34:11Still unsatisfied with her story,
34:13Officer Mala asks the woman
34:15about her accommodations
34:16while in the U.S.
34:18She gives the names
34:19of two different friends,
34:21explaining that she's romantically involved
34:24with both of them.
34:25And when you visit,
34:26where are you going to be staying?
34:27With him.
34:28At his house.
34:29Is he married?
34:30Is he single?
34:31He's single.
34:33And who is B-Fentanyl?
34:34He's another friend of mine.
34:35You're staying at his house as well?
34:37Yes.
34:38I have a partner
34:39with an open registered partnership.
34:42In your country?
34:43Yes.
34:44I'm in an open relationship.
34:45I'm in an open relationship
34:47and we've hooked up
34:48and my partner knows about this.
34:49She has multiple partners.
34:51Okay.
34:52Officer Mala wants to make sure
34:53that the woman is meeting other men
34:55of her own free will.
34:57Do you perform paid sex?
34:59No.
35:00Oh my Lord, no.
35:01Are you sure?
35:01Yes.
35:02Because you do come see
35:03a lot of guys in here, so...
35:04No, I do not.
35:06Are you sure?
35:06Yes.
35:07We see them, or like,
35:08are you in any, like, escort website?
35:10No, I'm sorry.
35:11We gotta ask.
35:11We see them all the time.
35:12Girls from all around the world
35:14come here as an escort.
35:15Make sure you're not being traveling.
35:16I have another skill
35:17that I obviously used.
35:19Okay.
35:21Satisfied that she's not
35:22meeting men under duress,
35:23the writing is still on the wall
35:25for the pen maker.
35:27All the signs point
35:28to her importing luxury goods
35:30and the tools to make them
35:32with the intention of selling them.
35:35You are being returned
35:36with the first available flight.
35:39Do you understand?
35:43Yes.
35:43And the ticket costs $880.
35:46Your ESTA will be canceled.
35:48Once you violated the terms,
35:49you can no longer use it.
35:51Forever?
35:51Forever.
35:54The bad thing about her is that
35:56once you violate the ESTA terms,
35:58you can never use ESTA again.
35:59It's, like, for life, I feel like,
36:01because it's a trusted travel program.
36:04Once you violate it,
36:06you technically consider
36:06not a trusted traveler anymore.
36:08Officer Mala is confident
36:10that her plan was to make
36:12direct sales to U.S. customers
36:14to avoid trade tariffs,
36:16a violation of her travel conditions.
36:19Okay, your seat is 20...
36:22I'm sorry, 48 G.
36:23Your seat is 48 G?
36:24Okay, let's go.
36:27Safe travels.
36:29Bye.
36:34She understood.
36:35She loves to stay in U.S.,
36:38unfortunately.
36:39Most people do.
36:40But hopefully she'll be able
36:41to get the right visa
36:42and come back.
36:56At JFK's International Mail Facility.
37:01There's something wrong with this bag.
37:03It has the makening
37:04of something illicit coming here.
37:06Officer Cisneros
37:08has identified two suspicious packages
37:10sent from the U.K.
37:12Wow.
37:14I have white powder.
37:19I'm going to gear up,
37:21have a mask,
37:21and change my gloves
37:22and try to test it.
37:24I don't take anything for granted.
37:26Maybe fentanyl.
37:27I don't know what it is.
37:29A testing device
37:31uses laser technology
37:32to identify the substance
37:34inside the first package.
37:37Okay, I see that this
37:41plastic is very thick.
37:43Let's see what we have here.
37:48Okay, so we're analyzing,
37:49so we're going to close the eggs.
37:56Ketamine.
37:56We have a hit.
37:57Ketamine is a medical anesthetic,
37:59a Schedule III controlled substance.
38:03Cheaper than cocaine,
38:05it's increasingly being abused
38:07as a recreational drug.
38:09Causing intense disorientation,
38:12users are often left highly vulnerable.
38:16people use these drugs
38:18to rape victims,
38:20to take the money out of the victims.
38:22But the very next day,
38:24the person who is being given this drug
38:27has no conscience of what happened.
38:30Okay, I got the second one here.
38:32This is sealed.
38:40You have an envelope,
38:41and then you have a CD, a DVD.
38:45It doesn't make sense.
38:48Wow.
38:49And you also have
38:51the white substance,
38:52which is wrapped,
38:53the same as the other one.
38:55Again, it might be ketamine.
38:57I don't know what it is,
38:58so I'm going to test that again.
39:01Now we need to scan this.
39:07Okay, we're analyzing now.
39:14Bingo, ketamine.
39:16Hopefully, you know,
39:17within 24 hours,
39:19we're going to have agents
39:21looking at this,
39:22see if they,
39:22the person have prior records
39:25so they can be arrested.
39:27And we take it from there.
39:28Since both shipments
39:30have come from the UK,
39:31Homeland Security investigations
39:33will notify the British police.
39:37If they track down the sender,
39:39they could face
39:40a long prison sentence.
39:42Wow, that's 1.65 kilograms.
39:51And let's see what we have.
39:52This one over here,
39:53the small ones.
39:57There you go.
40:01That is 61.9,
40:03a little bit half
40:06a kilo, we'll say.
40:07Okay, that's it.
40:09That's 2 kilos
40:10of dangerous ketamine powder
40:12worth over $200,000
40:15that has been stopped
40:16from getting onto
40:17the streets of New York.
40:24The result is
40:26that this drug
40:26is not on the street
40:27because what we do here
40:29is save life.
40:30And save life
40:31is the most important thing
40:32in our mission.
40:33It's just doing
40:34what we have to do
40:35to keep Americans safe.
40:37Now we have it here.
40:41And we close it.
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