10. Passenger control

In dealing with any passenger, the most important point to establish is "Why is this passenger travelling?" To find this out a Customs officer should: establish reasons for travel, examine passport and tickets. If the passenger is a frequent traveller reasons for frequency of travel should be established. While examining tickets, it’s necessary to pay attention to the method of payment because late booked or cash tickets are often used by smugglers.

The Customs Officer usually asks the following questions: “Is this all your baggage? Did you pack it yourself?”, “Do you know what the baggage contains?” “Are you carrying any items for anyone else?”, “Are you travelling alone?”

Depending on the purpose of travel practical examination is different.

If a passenger is travelling on business, the Officer examines any documents in order to verify that the passenger is engaged in legitimate business. Make sure that documents relate to up-to-date transactions.

If visitors or residents are returning from holidays, the Officer looks for gifts, clothing, souvenirs and the usual items normally expected to find with this type of passenger. These will link passengers to the baggage and reasons for travel. It’s suspicious if passengers arrive with only light baggage containing few, if any, articles of personal nature.

For all passengers it’s necessary to check baggage for concealments and examine articles within baggage by X-ray or opening them.