Immigrations and Customs Enforcement said the multi-agency Border Enforcement Security Task Force (BEST) seized about 28 kilograms of cocaine hidden in a container arriving at the Port of San Juan, Puerto Rico, on April 3. The contraband, which tested positive for cocaine during a field test, was found onboard the M/V Freemantle Express arriving from Caucedo, Dominican Republic. ICE said there were no arrests associated with this seizure, but the investigation continues.
A listing of recent antidumping and countervailing duty messages from the International Trade Administration posted to U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Web site as of April 5, 2012, along with the case number(s) and CBP message number, is provided below. The messages are available by searching on the listed CBP message number at http://addcvd.cbp.gov.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection will change ‘Always “:” (colon)’ to ‘Preferred “:” (colon)’ in Element ISA16 as of April 9 for the following sets of Ocean and Rail X12:
U.S. Customs and Border Protection issued a final rule making technical corrections to CBP's regulations to reflect the repeal of one of the underlying statuary authorities regarding petitions for relief from a fine, penalty, forfeiture, or liquidated damages under a law administered by CBP. The rule doesn't change Administrative petitioning rights because CBP has other existing statutory authority for these provisions. The rule also amends regulations to reflect changes in delegation authority as effected by the transfer of CBP to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and makes non-substantive editorial and nomenclature changes.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is requesting comments by May 2, 2012 on an existing information collection on Importers of Merchandise Subject to Actual Use Provisions. CBP proposes to extend the expiration date of this information collection with no change to the burden hours or to the information collected.
Customs agents at the Port of Los Angeles stopped shipping containers that contained 20 high-end cars, said U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The agents were alerted to the cars after a rental company noted that the GPS device installed in a rented Ferrari showed the car as at the port and not moving, the L.A. Times reported.. The Ferrari and other cars were all in containers marked "used fitness equipment" bound for Hong Kong and Vietnam, said CBP.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection issued the following releases on commercial trade and related issues:
In a move to beef up its security, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey approved creating a standalone Security Department and appointing the agency's first Chief Security Officer (CSO). The new CSO will be found via a nationwide search, the authority said following the March 29 action. The CSO will direct all elements related to agency security matters, with the Security Department assuming full operational control of the Port Authority Police Department. The announcement followed a confidential briefing by former U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, whom the board retained in May 2011 to do a top-to-bottom study of the Port Authority's management of security.
A listing of recent antidumping and countervailing duty messages from the International Trade Administration posted to U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Web site as of April 4, 2012, along with the case number(s) and CBP message number, is provided below. The messages are available by searching on the listed CBP message number at http://addcvd.cbp.gov.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Area Port of Buffalo will hold its first “Trade Day” on Thursday, May 3, 2012. The event will provide an opportunity for members of the trade community to meet with CBP and other government officials responsible for facilitating the importation of their goods. The Trade Day activities will be at U.S. Customs and Border Protection Port Office, 726 Exchange St., Suite 400, Buffalo, NY, from 10 am to 1 pm. The event is free, but on-line registration is required.