To Catch a Smuggler

Ok, the first few episodes I thought were pretty interesting and started binge watching it, but the more you watch it, the more you realize how heavily edited it is and what a farce the CBP seem to be. Not only do scenes/cases from previous episodes somehow pop up in other episodes (I guess they ran short?), but if you watch enough episodes, you can see how much the agents are just taking shots in the dark.

I will admit, they do find a decent amount of contraband, but that's just because they stop and search such a high number of people.

The VAST majority of the time, they just stop passengers on "a hunch". They've just "got a feeling" or the passenger "seems nervous", or something else completely arbitrary and unquantifiable.

Ok: 1) Some people are just anxious - there's a legitimate disorder called Generalized Anxiety Disorder where you're just nervous (pretty much all the time) for no specific reason. Place someone with that disorder in a stressful situation (like traveling - especially to a foreign country) and their anxiety is going to be through the roof. They even had a guy who said he had an anxiety disorder, and the officer mocked him, saying, "Yeah, I get anxious too." Obviously they have no idea what they're talking about or they wouldn't compare the two.

2) If you're in an airport in a foreign country and all of the sudden, officers are pulling you aside and asking you tons of questions (in a foreign language) WITH TV cameras on you, no matter how innocent you are, you're gonna be nervous and sweating!

They pull these passengers aside on a whim and start belligerently asking them all these questions (that they really don't have a right/reason to ask), and detain them if they don't like the answers or if the person seems fidgety. They just keep pressing them and pressing them, but at the same time ask why they're so nervous. Maybe because they're being badgered just for coming off a plane?

What's funny (and probably happens WAY more often than shown). They'll detain a guy for hours, CERTAIN that he's smuggling something. They'll use all sorts of tactics to try illicit a confession (intimidation, good cop/bad cop, threats, etc), and just keep up the pressure.

After having torn apart their luggage (including cutting the bag apart) without finding anything, officers will make them do a body scan (x-ray). I've only seen the x-ray reveal contraband in a passenger's stomach ONCE. All the other times it's just proof the traveler isn't hiding anything, and the officers were just completely misreading the body language.

Even when they come up empty, they won't admit they're wrong or apologize; they just say, "Well, maybe we didn't find anything THIS time, but you can never be too careful. The x-ray may have missed it, but we don't have anything to hold them on." Then they have the gall to say, "Welcome to the US," after having just harassed a foreign national w/o as much as a coupon for a free Cinnabon or flight voucher.

Really, the few people they legitimately catch outright are idiots who didn't even spend 5 minutes trying to think of a plausible cover story as to where they're from, where they're going, and why.

And when those people do come clean and try to cooperate, the agents ACTIVELY dissuade them from seeking legal advice. A person will say, "I'm willing to cooperate, but I think I should have a lawyer." The officers HEAVILY insinuate if they're truthful, they won't get into trouble, and when the suspect mentions counsel, they shut it down. "It's your right to have a lawyer, but that means we can't talk anymore. If you talk, I can help you, but if you want a lawyer, we can't talk - you can't do both." Which is a blatant lie. Yes, questioning has to stop until counsel arrives, but the suspect can still speak to and cooperate with the authorities.

Honestly, I'm surprised none of the officers have faced any lawsuits for unlawful detention, intimidation, or any number of other violations.

Even when they show the officers who are just going through incoming parcels and not dealing with people, they will cut apart and drill into merchandise, ON A HUNCH, and come up empty. Who pays for that stuff??

I want to see more dog teams. The Officer's are doing a great job under difficult conditions. People lie and bring they shouldn't. Some of the officers could be a little more courteous but some are absolutely wonderful and make it a little easier for cranky travelers. Nice show but add more dog teams please!

That is a man who you know has worked hard to get where he is. I love this guy!

As a frequent traveler, I will say that it is frightening whenever there is a chance of getting "pulled aside." Basic psychology will tell you that a passenger will take emotional cues from the Officers. They have no "bed side manner. This needs to be worked on. Trust me, post 9-11, my people were the poster children for DHS.

Still love me some Agent Walter, though!!

I LOVE THE SHOW, it is so mind blowing to see the sacrifice seemingly ordinary people are taking to traffic drugs. I conclude that most of the traffickers are being threatened/forced to do the task, plus greed on the traffickers part once introduced to the task. I believe the traffickers chosen to do the job are ignorant to the severity of the crime and have little insight to how they can be caught. SOLUTION- to decrease FLIGHT TRAVELINGTRAFFICKERS- play the Series throughout the airport, make it visual for them to see how they will be caught, arrested and sent immediately to prison. This may also led officials to finding out who are the people pushing the trafficking, if my theory is correct, the person who agreed to be the drug trafficker will have to return to their source. Id really like to kmow what is happening to the families and loved ones of the captured drug trafficker, where are those bodies??? Or maybe what happens to them is that they are next to attempt the trafficking of the next supply of drugs. THIS IS VERY DEEP, at least it leads me to think that deep, It is a vicious cycle. I would be remiss to not thank CUSTOMS BORDER PATROL employees, they are doing an OUTSTANDING job. THANKS CBP.

As a reply to the people 'concerned' about people's right to privacy, bug off. If you've ever flown abroad you'll see how easy we are. No foreigner should expect to have our constitutional rights. A citizen, deal with it. How do they know you are a citizen until they ask questions? They're not breaking down your door and your returning from 'hot' spots can be a problem for many more people than your momentary inconvenience. We live in dangerous times with many enemies. Finally, remember these officers are people, not actors used to being on camera. Being in the public limelight makes a person self conscious, so cut 'em some slack.