CBP Has Been Conducting "Targeted" Documentation Exams on Textiles and Apparel
According to government sources, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has been conducting "targeted" documentation exams on selected textile and apparel shipments for over a year now, and is continuing to do so. To date, CBP has found numerous cases where counterfeit documents were used in an attempt to circumvent quota.
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(Sources explain that these documentation exams were "targeted," and were not "blanket sweeps," as was CBP's June 2003 "document accuracy test" during which 80,000 entries containing textiles and/or apparel subject to quota and/or visa requirements (entry type '02') were subject to greater scrutiny than normal.)
In Last Six Months, $75 Million in Chinese Apparel Claimed False "Country of Origin"
In approximately the last six months, government sources state that CBP has found $75 million in mostly apparel of Chinese origin, which falsely claimed another country as the "country of origin."
In Last Six Months, $30 Million in Textiles/Apparel Could Not be Verified as Russian Origin
Also, in approximately the last six months, government sources state that it stopped $30 million in textiles and apparel claiming Russian origin from entering the U.S., as their "country of origin" could not be proved.
In Last 12 Months, Over $200 Million in Smuggled Textiles and Apparel Discovered
Government sources also state that in approximately the last 12 months, CBP has discovered over $200 million in textiles and apparel that were smuggled into the U.S.
(See ITT's Online Archives or 12/03/02 news, 02120315 for BP summary of 2002 USA-ITA notice on an illegal scheme reportedly involving 5,000 containers valued at $500 million in Chinese origin textiles and/or apparel that were supposed to be shipped under bond to Mexico, but were instead smuggled into the U.S.)
According to government sources, some of the above schemes have involved individuals and/or companies in various countries, in various capacities (either witting or unwitting), including (partial list):
| Mexico | Uzbekistan |
| Maldives | Kenya |
| Russia | South Africa |
| Hong Kong | China |
(See ITT's Online Archives or 01/28/04 news, 04012815 for BP summary regarding CBP's plans to conduct a "document accuracy test" (of a "blanket sweep" nature like the June 2003 "document accuracy test) of non-quota textiles and apparel in March 2004.)