Travellers Processing
Section 2 Customs Act
“Includes any person employed in the Department of Customs and Excise, the Revenue Protection Division of the Ministry of Finance and all officers of the Jamaica Constabulary Force, as well as any person acting in the aid of an officer or any such person….”
Item 6 2nd Schedule part 6 allowances
1. 500 duty free allowance.
2. Personal duty free allowance.
3. Used items and tools.
4. Returning Residents entitlements.
Interview
A conversation between two or more persons (The interviewer and the interviewee) where questions are asked by the interviewer to obtain information from the interviewee.
Done to ensure symmetry within the JCA
Secondary Examinations
JCA Units operating at the Airports.
Passenger , Air Cargo & Export and Queens Warehouse.
Prohibition
•To formally forbid by law
•Not permitted at all
Returning Resident
•Jamaica 18 years and older
•Living abroad for 3 consecutive years
•Returning to Jamaica to reside permanently
Nervous Behaviours Prior to Interviews
ØRapidly blinking eyes
ØFacial, head or neck posture
ØYawning
ØFideting or nervou hands
ØShifting body weight
Customs officer aren’t permitted to waive this examination.
Mandatory Examination.
Section 209 of the Customs Act
False Declaration
Restriction
•To put a limit on, keep under control
Requires an import permit or licence.
Three criteria of an Intransit Passengers
•Passenger that have not been landed by Immigration and processed by Customs.
•Final destination is not Jamaica.
•Prohibited from leaving the terminal and is to remain in the Intransit/Departure lounge.
Purpose of Interview
¢To obtain information from the person being interviewed.
¢To obtain facts pertinent to any passenger.
¢To gather information to build a picture.
¢To corroborate and clarify information from other sources.
¢To trigger emotions or other behavioural symptoms that can tell you someone might be hiding something.
Customs Officer has evaluated the declaration, the traveler, the origin of the flight, etc., and suspects that there is a risk that undeclared or dutiable goods might be present.
Selective Examination.
Three Airport Stakeholders
Ministries, MBJ Airports, PACAL, Club VIP, JTB, JAMPRO, etc
Four Roles of A Customs Officer
1. Perform agency functions.
2. Collect revenue.
3. Examine baggage and cargo to prevent smuggling.
4.Combat drug trafficking.
5. Facilitate trade to protect unfair cometition etc.
Unaccompanied Minors
•Mandatory examination is required as passenger is not entitled to an allowance.
•Often used as couriers by adults.
•Always examine and interview in the presence of adult (airline agent acts as representative).
Under 18 years old.
Four Questions to ask during an interview.
WHO packed your luggage?
WHO are you travelling with?
WHERE will you be staying?
WHEN was the last time you travelled?
WHAT are the contents of your luggage?
HOW many pieces of luggage are you travelling with?
Four types of Examination
1.Mandatory
2.Selective
3.Random
4.Rummage
The Green Line
•No restricted or prohibited items
•Personal and household items not exceeding the US $1000.00 allowance.
•No unaccompanied luggage.
•No goods for commercial exchange or resale.
Five items of Personal Duty Free Allowance
•200 sticks of cigarettes or 50 sticks of cigars or 230 grams of Tobacco
•1 Liter Spirits
•1 Liter wine
•170 ml of Perfumed spirits
•340 ml of Toilet Water
Point of Finality
•Occurs when after given every opportunity to declare, a traveller or importer makes a final declaration i.e the person is saying: “This is what I have and this is all I have.”
- Nil or Nothing to Declare
• When the goods enter the geographical area controlled by Jamaica.
POLITE
Prepare, Open , Listen , Interview,Think and End
Section 57-59 of the Customs Act.
•S. 57: right to search and question for uncustomed and prohibited goods, seize goods and protect officers from prosecution.
•S. 58: person has right to appeal to J.P. , Senior Officer or Commissioner for proven probable cause.
•S. 59: Only females may search females.
Red Line
•Restricted or prohibited items.
•Goods for resale, commercial use, temporary use etc.
•Unaccompanied baggage
•Items exceeding the US $1000.00 personal allowance.