CBP Acting Commissioner Says Agency Trying to Stop Counterfeit Goods, but Volume 'Astronomical'
Most senators' questions to Acting CBP Commissioner Mark Morgan at a Homeland Security Committee hearing June 25 were on immigration, but Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., asked him what the agency can do to stop counterfeit goods from coming in from China. Morgan said CBP is working to not just “come up with new policies, but also new techniques and new processes to help us identify and stop goods from coming into this country.”
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Morgan said that through Operation Mega Flex, the agency is “surging resources,” but acknowledged that they don't have either the technology or the personnel “to adequately look at everything coming across.”
Morgan said that because of the de minimis level, the number of packages with counterfeit goods that enter the U.S. is astronomical.
Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, asked Morgan if the STOP Act (see 1810030052) has been effective in slowing the flow of mail and express shipments with fentanyl. Morgan said he'd have to get back to him, but said that CBP's relationship with the U.S. Postal Service is strong. He added that CBP is asking corporations for help “with innovative ideas how we can get better on detecting drugs in the mail environment.”