AGENT AGENT_ON_RADIO AGRICULTURE_SPECIALIST CHIEF_AUGUSTINO CHIEF_OFFICER_SINGH MARINE_INTERDICTION_AGENT_BERGER MARINE_INTERDICTION_AGENT_LEBRON MARINE_INTERDICTION_AGENT_NIEVES OFFICER OFFICER_BELLOTTE OFFICER_DIAZ OFFICER_DUSHARM OFFICER_EPSTEIN OFFICER_ISLAM OFFICER_KEEFE OFFICER_ON_RADIO OFFICER_PAPA OFFICER_SANCHEZ OFFICER_VAN_BEVER OFFICER_WHITMAN OFFICER_ZIEMBA OFFICER_ZUBIA RESIDENT_AGENT_IN_CHARGE_MARTINEZ SPECIAL_AGENT_LUIS SUPERVISORY_MARINE_INTERDICTION_AGENT_GUTIERREZ SUPERVISORY_MARINE_INTERDICTION_AGENT_PINEIRO SUPERVISORY_OFFICER_HUNDAL TRAVELER OFFICER VAN BEVER [speaking Spanish] Hello, sir. [speaking English] All the stuff in the vehicle, who's it for? TRAVELER That's my, that's my friend's stuff. Most of it. TRAVELER We got pulled over going into Mexico. TRAVELER So, so what the guys told us is that. TRAVELER We couldn't bring this car into Mexico. TRAVELER Because it has a permit, and not an actual license plate. OFFICER VAN BEVER Okay. TRAVELER So, and, and, and since he's not like a resident or a citizen from here. OFFICER VAN BEVER Uh-huh. TRAVELER He, he couldn't come back with the car. OFFICER VAN BEVER So Mexico wouldn't let the car in, but they let him in? TRAVELER Yeah. TRAVELER And since I'm a resident. TRAVELER They just told me to take this car back and leave it in El Paso. OFFICER VAN BEVER Um. TRAVELER It seems to be like a bad situation for me. OFFICER VAN BEVER Yeah, and the problem is, is if he has anything illegal in it, it's on you. All right, so just come on out. TRAVELER Can I get my bag? I got. OFFICER VAN BEVER Which bag is yours? TRAVELER That. That bag is mine. That's my clothes. TRAVELER That's my clothes. OFFICER VAN BEVER All right. Well. TRAVELER And then I got another bag right there. OFFICER [speaking Spanish] We have to take it all out. OFFICER So that the dog can walk through. OFFICER VAN BEVER He's claimed the two bags. Everything else is, including the vehicle, is the other guy's, who was in Mexico. Right now we're just trying to determine if there's anything illicit in the car. Is that your bag? TRAVELER Yeah. That's my bag. OFFICER ZIEMBA Everything inside this bag belongs to you? TRAVELER Well, what do you mean like everything? TRAVELER I've got clothing and everything. OFFICER ZIEMBA Are you carrying anything for anybody else? Any drugs, narcotics? Now's the opportunity to tell me, man. OFFICER ZIEMBA I'm serious. TRAVELER No, I'm serious too. OFFICER ZIEMBA Do you have any drugs or narcotics or paraphernalia inside this bag? TRAVELER In, in the bag? No. TRAVELER I'm telling you, all I have is my clothes. OFFICER ZIEMBA If I find anything I will assess you a five-hundred-dollar penalty, do you understand? TRAVELER Well, yeah. I mean, I don't have anything that's like. OFFICER ZIEMBA Okay, sir. OFFICER VAN BEVER So everything else, which one is, oh, that is yours? TRAVELER Yes. OFFICER VAN BEVER Okay. OFFICER ZIEMBA Paraphernalia. OFFICER Just come with me. OFFICER ZIEMBA I just asked you if everything inside this bag belonged to you and this was your bag. TRAVELER Well, everything inside. Where was that at? OFFICER ZIEMBA I specifically asked for narcotics. It was right here. I asked you several times. TRAVELER This bag and this bag should be empty, because I. TRAVELER I didn't put anything in it. OFFICER ZIEMBA Well, this is what I found. TRAVELER I was not aware of that, that, that, that that was inside my bag. OFFICER VAN BEVER Who put your bag in the car? You or him? TRAVELER Him. OFFICER ZIEMBA All right, so I'm gonna have you place your hands behind your back. OFFICER ZIEMBA We're gonna go inside and pat him down. SUPERVISORY MARINE INTERDICTION AGENT GUTIERREZ Okay, Sosa. AGENT What up? SUPERVISORY MARINE INTERDICTION AGENT GUTIERREZ Emora. AGENT Yup. SUPERVISORY MARINE INTERDICTION AGENT GUTIERREZ You guys are gonna be the agents. We are the Fajardo Marine Unit. SUPERVISORY MARINE INTERDICTION AGENT GUTIERREZ We'll be conducting some training for, uh, some new agents. We're gonna go through the tactics, okay? AGENT Uh-huh. SUPERVISORY MARINE INTERDICTION AGENT GUTIERREZ Systematically work through a problem. The most important thing first and then we start moving to the other things. If mistakes are done, that's what we're here for, okay? Just let the training flow. It's important because when you have a situation where it's hasty, you don't have a whole lot of time to react or think. The training should take over. AGENT Coming up. Coming up. AGENT Let me see your hands. Let me see your hands. AGENT Put your hands up. AGENT Walk towards this side of the vessel. AGENT Keep walking. Keep walking. SUPERVISORY MARINE INTERDICTION AGENT GUTIERREZ Air and Marine Operations is a branch of Customs and Border Protection. AGENT Keep turning. Keep turning. Keep turning. SUPERVISORY MARINE INTERDICTION AGENT GUTIERREZ Our job is to prevent drug trafficking into the United States or its territories. We patrol the skies. We patrol the maritime border. AGENT Sit down on your ankle. AGENT Move it forward. AGENT Go, go, go. I said, "Go." AGENT I got him. SUPERVISORY MARINE INTERDICTION AGENT GUTIERREZ There's a lot of information shared between us and Homeland Security Investigations. They help us gain intel on possible loads coming towards Puerto Rico. AGENT Ready? Go. AGENT Vessel clear. SUPERVISORY MARINE INTERDICTION AGENT GUTIERREZ Okay, out of role. Let's rewind. AGENT Light him up. AGENT Shoot gun. AGENT Four guys in there. Four guys. AGENT Hands. Let me see your hands. AGENT Let me see your hands. Let me see your hands. Let me see your hands. Let me see your hands. Let me see your hands. AGENT Pink shirt, hands up. AGENT Move. AGENT Sir with the pink shirt. AGENT Go ahead and put your hands behind your back. Okay, don't move. SUPERVISORY MARINE INTERDICTION AGENT GUTIERREZ Out of role. Out of role. AGENT You guys did a much better job commanding. These searches were great. SUPERVISORY MARINE INTERDICTION AGENT GUTIERREZ Being a marine agent here in the Caribbean, it takes a certain kind of work ethic. There's always something going on. We could be patrolling and out of the blink of an eye, we might be en route to interdict a vessel loaded with narcotics. That's why we train the way we do, because any little mistake could be fatal. AGENT We going back to the office? SUPERVISORY MARINE INTERDICTION AGENT GUTIERREZ Yup. Coming up. Coming up. CHIEF AUGUSTINO Can I check your passport? Are you coming from Portugal? TRAVELER Yes. CHIEF AUGUSTINO Playing ball? TRAVELER Yes. CHIEF AUGUSTINO Dulles is a unique environment, because we have a wide range of different cultures and people arriving from all sorts of different areas of the world. We also are a big airport in the national capital region for dignitaries, diplomats, and other high-profile individuals. CHIEF OFFICER SINGH Can I see your passport, please? TRAVELER Sure. CHIEF OFFICER SINGH Which country are you traveling from? TRAVELER From Nepal. CHIEF OFFICER SINGH How long were you in Nepal? TRAVELER I've been living there. TRAVELER My husband is posted there, for the World Bank. CHIEF OFFICER SINGH Okay. CHIEF AUGUSTINO That really doesn't change the way we inspect people. Everyone's a subject to the same laws and I'm gonna treat a high-ranking diplomat the same as any other passenger coming off a flight. CHIEF AUGUSTINO Can I see your passport? Where are you coming from? TRAVELER From Morocco. CHIEF AUGUSTINO Morocco. All right, how long were you gone? TRAVELER Like a month and five days. CHIEF AUGUSTINO What was the purpose for your trip? TRAVELER Vacation, see my family. CHIEF AUGUSTINO I've been with CBP for the past fifteen years. For the past four years I've been a chief. I can sit behind a desk and do my job, but I like to get out, actually do the roving, do the enforcement operations, and lead by example. I don't like to ask officers to do anything that I'm not willing to do myself. OFFICER EPSTEIN Colombia is pretty much done already. CHIEF AUGUSTINO Oh, really? OFFICER EPSTEIN Yeah. OFFICER EPSTEIN Today, I'm roving with Chief Augustino. CHIEF AUGUSTINO Grab them. OFFICER EPSTEIN Hey, how are you? Where are you traveling from? TRAVELER From Bolivia. OFFICER EPSTEIN Bolivia, all right. How long were you there? TRAVELER Two weeks almost. OFFICER EPSTEIN It helps knowing that we have chiefs that have the officers' backs and are always watching us to make sure things are being done safely. Make sure that we're being safe when it comes to handling possible narcotics. Any fruits or vegetables? TRAVELER No. OFFICER EPSTEIN What about coca leaf? TRAVELER No, I can't because I'm in the Army. TRAVELER You know, that would pop up for my drug test. OFFICER EPSTEIN Exactly. That's what I figured, you wouldn't. But I still, I still gotta ask, all right? Thank you for your service. Have a good day, okay? TRAVELER No problem. OFFICER EPSTEIN [speaking Spanish] Do you speak English? TRAVELER Yeah. OFFICER EPSTEIN All right, how long were you in Bolivia? TRAVELER Uh, just ten days. OFFICER EPSTEIN Ten days in Bolivia? Okay. What do you have in your bags with you today? TRAVELER Um, like, chocolate. OFFICER EPSTEIN Uh-huh. TRAVELER Nothing that's food. OFFICER EPSTEIN All right, any coca leaf? TRAVELER Yeah, coca leaf. But it is. TRAVELER One pound and a half (six hundred eighty grams). OFFICER EPSTEIN I'm gonna take a quick look at that, okay? So come and bring your bags with me. CHIEF AUGUSTINO Coca leaves are a common item coming from Bolivia and Peru. It's generally used as a medicinal item in their culture. Where they come from, it, it's not a big deal. Unfortunately, in the U.S. it is prohibited. OFFICER EPSTEIN All right. Take one step back for me, okay? What's this? TRAVELER It's like a. TRAVELER Like, Bolivia, I mean. TRAVELER Like, some plant. OFFICER EPSTEIN Some plant? TRAVELER Well, I don't know. OFFICER EPSTEIN What do you use the plant for? TRAVELER I just, just give me for, for some friend. OFFICER EPSTEIN For some friend. So you don't know what it is? TRAVELER Not exactly. [COMMERCIAL BREAK] OFFICER EPSTEIN I'm gonna check with our agriculture specialists. Can you just come look at something for me really quick? AGRICULTURE SPECIALIST This is okay for me. OFFICER EPSTEIN That's okay? AGRICULTURE SPECIALIST Yeah. CHIEF AUGUSTINO People like to bring different items and, and things from their culture, from their countries. This woman was bringing another plant. Agriculture said that it was fine. It has to be cleared so they can understand what's allowed and what isn't. OFFICER EPSTEIN Let's see what's in here. Aha. Coca leaf. You can't bring this. TRAVELER They told me two pounds (nine hundred seven grams). OFFICER EPSTEIN They told you two pounds (nine hundred seven grams)? TRAVELER No, it's not two pounds (nine hundred seven grams). TRAVELER One and a half (six hundred eighty grams). OFFICER EPSTEIN Yeah, so you still can't bring it in. It is a prohibited item here in the U.S., so I legally have to take it. Do you have any more? Am I gonna find any more? TRAVELER That's it. OFFICER EPSTEIN That's it? Okay. OFFICER EPSTEIN So, this is coca leaf and it has a very distinct smell to it. They usually brew it for teas. It's very traditional. Here, for U.S. purposes, it's considered a Schedule Two analogue. 'Cause technically, you would need a lot of it, but this could technically make cocaine. Can't bring that. CHIEF AUGUSTINO You're not in trouble. OFFICER EPSTEIN Yeah, that's what I. CHIEF AUGUSTINO But unfortunately, it is an item that's not allowed in the United States. TRAVELER I know, but I asked them and they said, uh, two pounds (nine hundred seven grams) is fine. TRAVELER That's why I bring it. CHIEF AUGUSTINO Who did you, who did you ask? TRAVELER At the airline. OFFICER EPSTEIN The airline? TRAVELER The airline. CHIEF AUGUSTINO Yeah, the airline's not a great source for U.S. laws, unfortunately. There is available, uh, information on our website though. TRAVELER The coca is only used. TRAVELER Everybody in Bolivia. TRAVELER For feel better. I mean, it gives a little bit of energy. OFFICER EPSTEIN Oh, energy. TRAVELER It's medicinal plant. OFFICER EPSTEIN I'm gonna give you everything back, okay? So you know not to bring it next time, right? TRAVELER I know for next time. OFFICER EPSTEIN It's okay. Now you know for next trip. She declared it to me and because she declared it we're not gonna charge her a penalty. All right, you have a good day, all right? But now she knows not to bring this even though the airline told her. So maybe she can tell her friends and family, "Don't listen to the airlines. Listen to CBP." OFFICER VAN BEVER He's claiming that the guy that he was taking back slipped two pipes in his bag, and went through Mexico Customs. OFFICER VAN BEVER Don't know if it's true or not, but now I'm searching all the bags to make sure if there's no drugs elsewhere. When you have this stuff on you, it's yours, unfortunately. Whether it is or not, that's the way it looks. And he's the only one here. Oh. These are little baggies. These baggies usually are used to sell drugs in. I was going through this pencil case and at the bottom it had these. OFFICER ZIEMBA That goes with the rocks I found on him in the cell. Inside the cell we did a personal search. OFFICER ZIEMBA We did find a baggie with paper. It looked like a white rocky substance. Until it's tested, we're unable to clarify what that is. OFFICER VAN BEVER K9 to secondary. OFFICER All clear. OFFICER KEEFE Any other narcotics? OFFICER VAN BEVER Nope. OFFICER KEEFE That doesn't look like just paper to me. I'm pretty sure that's gonna end up being coke. Nope. Oh, it's meth. I was wrong. Oh, yeah, that's a meth rock. OFFICER KEEFE We'll charge him a five hundred dollar fine. We'll seize the narcotics and then he will be released. But that lookout will follow him for at least a year, if not, longer. The other individual involved, we're going to attempt to use his information to place a lookout on him as well. MARINE INTERDICTION AGENT LEBRON Today should be a heavy day for boating activity on the east side of Puerto Rico. MARINE INTERDICTION AGENT LEBRON So we'll go out there and see if we encounter anything that looks out of place. Do some checks on random boats. And see what we encounter tonight. Twenty one hundred. Twenty one hundred. Let us know if you have anything. AGENT ON RADIO Good copy. MARINE INTERDICTION AGENT LEBRON [speaking Spanish] How are we on gas? MARINE INTERDICTION AGENT NIEVES We're good. AGENT ON RADIO There's some traffic at your 2 o'clock. MARINE INTERDICTION AGENT LEBRON 10-4. 10-4. You see lights? AGENT Yeah. Lights. MARINE INTERDICTION AGENT LEBRON I've got it, yeah. I see it right there. We've got a visual contact. AGENT ON RADIO Copy. MARINE INTERDICTION AGENT LEBRON Want to check it out? AGENT Yeah. MARINE INTERDICTION AGENT BERGER We got a contact. MARINE INTERDICTION AGENT BERGER They went around the east side of Vieques. Coming from St. Croix. Now we're gonna run and intercept them. AGENT ON RADIO About a half a mile (804 meters) north. AGENT They're right there. Light them up. AGENT Yeah, man. MARINE INTERDICTION AGENT LEBRON [speaking Spanish] Customs. MARINE INTERDICTION AGENT LEBRON [speaking Spanish] Good evening, customs service. How are you? TRAVELER [speaking Spanish] Good. Thanks. MARINE INTERDICTION AGENT LEBRON [speaking Spanish] Where are you coming from? TRAVELER [speaking Spanish] We were fishing in St. Croix. MARINE INTERDICTION AGENT LEBRON St. Croix. MARINE INTERDICTION AGENT LEBRON [speaking Spanish] Where are you heading to? TRAVELER [speaking Spanish] We're going to Puerto del Rey. MARINE INTERDICTION AGENT LEBRON Okay. MARINE INTERDICTION AGENT LEBRON [speaking Spanish] Who's the owner of the boat? TRAVELER [speaking Spanish] I am. MARINE INTERDICTION AGENT LEBRON [speaking Spanish] Fish anything? TRAVELER [speaking Spanish] Yes, caught some nice things. AGENT The guy was in prison for ten years for drug smuggling. MARINE INTERDICTION AGENT LEBRON [speaking Spanish] Captain, we're going to board the boat. [COMMERCIAL BREAK] MARINE INTERDICTION AGENT NIEVES That boat came close to St. Croix. MARINE INTERDICTION AGENT NIEVES Doing about twenty-eight knots, three P.O.B.'s, so we checked the boat since that route is very, uh, common for drug smuggling. This vessel's pretty big. You can fit at least, maybe, two or three persons on this vessel, so we have to check all the compartments. Could be possible contraband, possible human smuggling too, or just illegal fishing. AGENT We're good. MARINE INTERDICTION AGENT LEBRON [speaking Spanish] You can come this way now. MARINE INTERDICTION AGENT LEBRON [speaking Spanish] I have to tell you something. MARINE INTERDICTION AGENT LEBRON [speaking Spanish] Every time you go out to St. Cruz or St. Thomas. MARINE INTERDICTION AGENT LEBRON [speaking Spanish] That's like crossing across the U.S. border. TRAVELER [speaking Spanish] We didn't enter St. Cruz. MARINE INTERDICTION AGENT LEBRON [speaking Spanish] You're coming from St. Cruz. TRAVELER [speaking Spanish] We were on the coast but didn't enter. MARINE INTERDICTION AGENT LEBRON [speaking Spanish] As soon as you cross nine miles (fourteen kilometers). MARINE INTERDICTION AGENT LEBRON [speaking Spanish] Outside of Puerto Rico. MARINE INTERDICTION AGENT LEBRON [speaking Spanish] You're outside of Puerto Rican territory. MARINE INTERDICTION AGENT LEBRON [speaking Spanish] You have to register with customs. MARINE INTERDICTION AGENT LEBRON [speaking Spanish] When returning back here. TRAVELER [speaking Spanish] Can you do it over the phone? MARINE INTERDICTION AGENT LEBRON [speaking Spanish] It's an application. MARINE INTERDICTION AGENT LEBRON [speaking Spanish] That you can do over the phone. TRAVELER [speaking Spanish] From customs? MARINE INTERDICTION AGENT LEBRON [speaking Spanish] It's called CBP ROAM. MARINE INTERDICTION AGENT LEBRON [speaking Spanish] Have a good night. TRAVELER [speaking Spanish] Thank you. TRAVELER [speaking Spanish] Have a good night. MARINE INTERDICTION AGENT LEBRON We've conducted a full inspection of the vessel. MARINE INTERDICTION AGENT LEBRON Subjects were clear and we let them go on their way. CHIEF OFFICER SINGH How are you? TRAVELER Good. CHIEF OFFICER SINGH Can I see your passport? I've been a CBP officer for about ten and a half years. CHIEF OFFICER SINGH And nine months ago I became a chief over here at Washington Dulles International Airport. Did you go to India? TRAVELER For a week. TRAVELER For the week. CHIEF OFFICER SINGH For one week? TRAVELER Yeah. CHIEF OFFICER SINGH What was the purpose? TRAVELER My cousin's marriage. CHIEF OFFICER SINGH Oh, okay. My style is I lead from the front. Most of the time I'm working with the frontline officers trying to rove. I do not like to sit behind a desk. Any gold products? TRAVELER No. TRAVELER Cash, I have only $200 in there. CHIEF OFFICER SINGH It gives me an opportunity to teach them, uh, how to do the things the right way. And it allows me to polish my previous skills and do, I come and see what the trends are as well. Excuse me, ma'am. Step over here for me. Where are you coming from? TRAVELER Bangladesh. CHIEF OFFICER SINGH Are you bringing any fresh fruits, vegetables. TRAVELER No. CHIEF OFFICER SINGH Alcohol, tobacco with you? TRAVELER No. CHIEF OFFICER SINGH Any gold products? Any silver products? Any jewelry? TRAVELER I wear it. Yeah. CHIEF OFFICER SINGH No, you're wearing it, but did you buy this over there? TRAVELER No, no. CHIEF OFFICER SINGH Nothing? TRAVELER Not really. CHIEF OFFICER SINGH Are you sure? TRAVELER I'm sure. CHIEF OFFICER SINGH Okay, I'm gonna take a look inside your bags, okay? TRAVELER Okay. TRAVELER Go ahead. CHIEF OFFICER SINGH All right, follow me. When they go to India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, they bring traditional gold, silver jewelry from there. If you purchase jewelry, you need to declare it and there might be some duty associated with it. So before we start, any money? TRAVELER Not at all. CHIEF OFFICER SINGH Okay. Any, uh, purchases that you made over there which of the value of those are. TRAVELER No, no. CHIEF OFFICER SINGH Listen to me first. The value of this is more than eight hundred dollars? TRAVELER No. CHIEF OFFICER SINGH Okay. What is that? Right here. TRAVELER A gift from my, one of my friends. CHIEF OFFICER SINGH How much was it? Do you know? TRAVELER I don't know. Gifts don't have the price. CHIEF OFFICER SINGH What about this? TRAVELER These are my jewelry that I wear. CHIEF OFFICER SINGH You took it from here? TRAVELER Yes. Yes. CHIEF OFFICER SINGH Okay. I'm gonna take a quick look inside this purse, okay? TRAVELER Okay. CHIEF OFFICER SINGH Thank you. So you have some money over here. TRAVELER Yes. CHIEF OFFICER SINGH How much is it? TRAVELER It's, uh, eight thousand. CHIEF OFFICER SINGH Eight thousand USD. TRAVELER Yeah. CHIEF OFFICER SINGH You told me you didn't have any money. OFFICER WHITMAN [speaking Spanish] Why did you go to Mexico? TRAVELER [speaking Spanish] For cookies. OFFICER WHITMAN [speaking Spanish] Cookies? OFFICER WHITMAN [speaking Spanish] Where are the cookies? OFFICER SANCHEZ Hello. What were you guys doing in Mexico? TRAVELER [speaking Spanish] We went to buy some groceries and items for cleaning. OFFICER SANCHEZ Working at a land border, you get to interact with people that live here and there. And you get to hear their stories. And you get to protect your own, like, city. OFFICER SANCHEZ [speaking Spanish] Good luck. See you later. TRAVELER [speaking Spanish] Thank you. TRAVELER [speaking Spanish] Thank you. OFFICER WHITMAN [speaking Spanish] You're welcome. [speaking English] You're such a good officer. Officer Sanchez is very nice. We usually work together a lot. OFFICER WHITMAN He's more of like my Spanish translator, 'cause I don't really speak Spanish that well. So I use him as, like, I call him my personal Google. How long were they in Mexico? OFFICER SANCHEZ [speaking Spanish] How long were you there? TRAVELER [speaking Spanish] Three hours. OFFICER SANCHEZ [speaking Spanish] Three hours. OFFICER WHITMAN Three hours? I walked into his booth one day and he was listening to country music and I was like, "Oh, you listen to country music?" He's like. "Oh, what? Because I'm from down South?" Why are you standing there like a weirdo? Well, that's kind of how we started talking. And then we started hanging out more and more. So we'll see what happens. OFFICER SANCHEZ What days off do you have next week? OFFICER WHITMAN Sunday and Friday. OFFICER SANCHEZ Meeting someone that's another officer? I love it, 'cause I could just vent out to her and she understands me. She understands what I went through and she could help me with any troubles that I have. And also make me a better officer. OFFICER WHITMAN [speaking Spanish] Why did you go to Mexico? TRAVELER [speaking Spanish] I'm going to see some relatives. OFFICER WHITMAN Huh? What's that? OFFICER SANCHEZ [speaking Spanish] What were you saying? TRAVELER [speaking Spanish] I'm going to see some relatives and buddies of mine. OFFICER SANCHEZ [speaking Spanish] How did you meet your friends? TRAVELER [speaking Spanish] They live here. TRAVELER [speaking Spanish] And now I'm going to a dinner. OFFICER SANCHEZ [speaking Spanish] How did you meet them? TRAVELER [speaking Spanish] They're my wife's friends. TRAVELER [speaking Spanish] From many years ago. OFFICER WHITMAN They're his wife's friends? OFFICER SANCHEZ [speaking Spanish] From school or what? TRAVELER [speaking Spanish] No, from work. OFFICER WHITMAN He's going to a party, but it's his friends, wife's friends from work? OFFICER SANCHEZ His wife's friends from work, yup. OFFICER WHITMAN Where's his wife? OFFICER SANCHEZ [speaking Spanish] Where's your wife? TRAVELER [speaking Spanish] She stayed in Juarez. OFFICER SANCHEZ [speaking Spanish] Why are you going and she's not? TRAVELER [speaking Spanish] Because. TRAVELER [speaking Spanish] She stayed with my kids. TRAVELER [speaking Spanish] I'm going for a little while. OFFICER SANCHEZ [speaking Spanish] But if they're her friends. TRAVELER [speaking Spanish] Yes, but we've known them for years. OFFICER SANCHEZ [speaking Spanish] Show me a text or something that proves. OFFICER WHITMAN Ask him where in his phone. OFFICER SANCHEZ [speaking Spanish] Show me something. TRAVELER [speaking Spanish] I can dial them. OFFICER WHITMAN [speaking Spanish] Where in the cellphone? OFFICER SANCHEZ [speaking Spanish] You have a text or what? TRAVELER [speaking Spanish] I can dial them. OFFICER SANCHEZ [speaking Spanish] How much money in cash? TRAVELER [speaking Spanish] I have eight hundred. OFFICER SANCHEZ [speaking Spanish] Eight hundred? OFFICER SANCHEZ [speaking Spanish] Why are you bringing eight hundred to a party if you're not. OFFICER SANCHEZ [speaking Spanish] Bringing any food or anything. OFFICER SANCHEZ He's nervous. OFFICER WHITMAN Yeah, do you see his hands? OFFICER SANCHEZ Can you run it real quick? OFFICER You want me to run it? OFFICER WHITMAN Yeah, can you? OFFICER Yeah, send it in. OFFICER WHITMAN Escort lane one. Escort lane one. [COMMERCIAL BREAK] OFFICER WHITMAN His story is really, really shady and he's super, super nervous. OFFICER WHITMAN [speaking Spanish] Pass through. TRAVELER Okay. OFFICER WHITMAN Follow him. OFFICER WHITMAN He couldn't tell me where the party was. Nor on his phone could he pull up like, "This is where we're gonna meet at this time." So I decided to send him to secondary for further inspection. OFFICER DIAZ [speaking Spanish] Where did you get the money? TRAVELER [speaking Spanish] From my job. TRAVELER [speaking Spanish] From my business. OFFICER DIAZ [speaking Spanish] You always have cash? OFFICER DIAZ [speaking Spanish] Money in cash? TRAVELER [speaking Spanish] Yes, yes. TRAVELER [speaking Spanish] Yes. TRAVELER [speaking Spanish] I'm a merchant. TRAVELER [speaking Spanish] And I normally either. TRAVELER [speaking Spanish] Bring this amount or bring less. TRAVELER [speaking Spanish] But I always bring some money. OFFICER DIAZ [speaking Spanish] You can go sit there at that table. TRAVELER Okay. [speaking Spanish] Very good. OFFICER DIAZ He buys clothes, bundles, used at secondhand shops or at a warehouse and then he takes it back and he sells it in Mexico. OFFICER DIAZ That's a normal thing for people coming through here. A lot of people have second hand stores. They come and they buy clothes cheap 'cause it's all used and beat up. And they'll go sell it for money, come back. So there's no suspicion as to where his money came from. Hangers? Doesn't look like anything has been tampered with. It's all covered in dust. OFFICER Good girl. Come on. Nothing that time, so it happens. OFFICER DIAZ [speaking Spanish] Sir. [speaking English] Nothing was found during the search of the vehicle, so now it'll go through our X-ray here. 2011 Chevy Equinox. OFFICER ON RADIO Chevy Equinox. OFFICER ON RADIO Good to go. TRAVELER [speaking Spanish] Thank you. OFFICER [speaking Spanish] Thank you. OFFICER DIAZ Nothing was found during the X-ray or the search. People do get nervous when they talk to us. You don't know what the police in their country do. Sometimes they can be nervous in primary and not be nervous up there in secondary. Sometimes it's the other way around. You have to look at the whole picture of what's in front of you. And I didn't feel there was anything suspicious with that individual. CHIEF OFFICER SINGH Any other currency? TRAVELER No. I told them that I. CHIEF OFFICER SINGH Who, who did you tell? TRAVELER When, when they asked me over there. CHIEF OFFICER SINGH No, no. What about me? When I asked you, what did you tell me? TRAVELER You said that I, did you ask me about the money? CHIEF OFFICER SINGH Yeah. TRAVELER I'm sorry. CHIEF OFFICER SINGH Now, do you know the currency reporting requirements? TRAVELER Yes. If it is over ten thousand, then we have to do it. CHIEF OFFICER SINGH Exactly. TRAVELER Yeah, I know that. CHIEF OFFICER SINGH Okay. What is this about? What, what's this receipt? TRAVELER I got a coffee. A cup of coffee, maybe that's the receipt. CHIEF OFFICER SINGH Nineteen thousand dollars for a cup of coffee? TRAVELER Nineteen thousand dollars. It says, "City Bancharampur, no. Taka. CHIEF OFFICER SINGH Taka. TRAVELER I exchanged my ticket for. CHIEF OFFICER SINGH Oh. Okay. TRAVELER It's a taka. It's a hundred and seven. CHIEF OFFICER SINGH It's taka. TRAVELER Taka. CHIEF OFFICER SINGH All right, so, just letting you know, you were too quick in giving me the answers. That means that you're either not even listening to me or there's something to hide, okay? But the money is okay, everything is okay. You're good to go. So nothing derogatory was found. She knew that she had to report the currency. CHIEF OFFICER SINGH In all, it was a very good inspection I can say, but I just wanted to make sure that when she was rushing through the exit process that, you know, I'm not missing anything. TRAVELER I'm really trying to be. CHIEF OFFICER SINGH No, you were fine. TRAVELER Be a very good citizen. OFFICER Thank you. CHIEF OFFICER SINGH Thank you. TRAVELER Thank you. MARINE INTERDICTION AGENT LEBRON [speaking Spanish] Yes, yes, yes. [speaking English] Okay. We'll be safe. MARINE INTERDICTION AGENT LEBRON We're on the east side of the island and I just got a call from, uh, the west side. They have a possible loaded vessel. AGENT ON RADIO This guy is lights out. AGENT Yeah, 10-4. AGENT Light him up. Blue lights, blue lights. AGENT ON RADIO [speaking Spanish] Hands up! AGENT ON RADIO [speaking Spanish] Hands up! AGENT [speaking Spanish] Stand by, warning! AGENT ON RADIO Standing by, disabling! AGENT ON RADIO Clear! Clear! [COMMERCIAL BREAK] AGENT [speaking Spanish] Look. Here it comes. RESIDENT AGENT IN CHARGE MARTINEZ Okay. SUPERVISORY MARINE INTERDICTION AGENT PINEIRO [speaking Spanish] We got it. RESIDENT AGENT IN CHARGE MARTINEZ [speaking Spanish] We got it. RESIDENT AGENT IN CHARGE MARTINEZ [speaking Spanish] Tremendous. [speaking English] It's gonna be his first load as a supervisor. So, congratulations Ivan. SUPERVISORY MARINE INTERDICTION AGENT PINEIRO Thank you. RESIDENT AGENT IN CHARGE MARTINEZ Good job, man. SUPERVISORY MARINE INTERDICTION AGENT PINEIRO Early morning, we received a call from our aircraft about a possible target of interest, uh, located close to Mona Island. About forty miles west of Puerto Rico. We responded. And as soon as the subjects noticed that we were there, they began to flee. It was a brief pursuit and ended up in disabling fire. When we have vessels that don't obey our commands, we deploy warning shots. If they don't stop to the warning shots, then we shoot at the engines with our shotgun and we, we disable them. AGENT [speaking Spanish] Let's go that way. Come. AGENT [speaking Spanish] Next. AGENT Let's start with the loose ones. AGENT [speaking Spanish] Little by little. AGENT It's gonna be a big one. CHIEF AUGUSTINO Anyone give you anything to bring in the bags? TRAVELER No, nothing. CHIEF AUGUSTINO Can you open this one real quick? Just, just the top of it. As a chief, we need to know a little bit about everything. CHIEF AUGUSTINO We're overseeing an entire operation. So, one minute we may need to be overseeing a case in immigration, the next we may be seeing different agriculture items coming in. SUPERVISORY OFFICER HUNDAL How are you doing today? Where are you coming from? TRAVELER Ghana. SUPERVISORY OFFICER HUNDAL How long you was in Ghana? TRAVELER About two weeks. SUPERVISORY OFFICER HUNDAL All right. What do we have here? What are you bringing in these bags here? TRAVELER Some material. Clothes for my family. TRAVELER For the food, I have. TRAVELER That is fish. SUPERVISORY OFFICER HUNDAL All right, so that, you're only bringing dry fish? TRAVELER Yeah. SUPERVISORY OFFICER HUNDAL Cassava? TRAVELER Yeah. SUPERVISORY OFFICER HUNDAL Okay, any bushmeat? Anything like that? TRAVELER No. SUPERVISORY OFFICER HUNDAL So what we're gonna do is we're gonna take a quick look at the, at the food items that you're bringing in, okay? She reported that she has dry fish only. SUPERVISORY OFFICER HUNDAL But I got this very distinct smell from the boxes, so there is a high possibility of meat products in it. I'm gonna need some help examining those, uh, food items. There's, like, a very distinct smell coming from the bags. SUPERVISORY OFFICER HUNDAL What kind of food do you have, ma'am? SUPERVISORY OFFICER HUNDAL Cow, goat, pork? TRAVELER Goat. SUPERVISORY OFFICER HUNDAL Goat, okay. Tell me which one to open, I'll pull it. OFFICER We need to open all of them. SUPERVISORY OFFICER HUNDAL All of them? Miss, while we're doing the exam can you please not on the phone and stand here. Which items are not good, you can pull them to the side. OFFICER ISLAM This is no good. SUPERVISORY OFFICER HUNDAL This is the same thing here. I can smell this one. OFFICER [speaking Spanish] Good afternoon. OFFICER [speaking Spanish] Anything to declare today? TRAVELER [speaking Spanish] I didn't buy anything. OFFICER [speaking Spanish] You didn't buy anything today in Ju�rez? TRAVELER No. OFFICER Okay. [speaking Spanish] Thank you. Have a good day. OFFICER SANCHEZ [speaking Spanish] Be right back. [speaking English] Escort lane nine. OFFICER [speaking Spanish] Straight ahead. OFFICER SANCHEZ A car came up. OFFICER SANCHEZ When I asked their story, what they were doing in Mexico, she said that she went to the optometrist and then to go eat. And she was like, "But it was nothing bad." I thought it was a little peculiar that she had to state that it was nothing bad. So, I send it to secondary, so they can look more into it. OFFICER PAPA You can kind of feel a little more solid. OFFICER ZUBIA Can they get K9 running it? OFFICER DUSHARM Good boy. Good boy. Good boy. OFFICER DUSHARM He alerted to the passenger seat and also the driver seat of the, of the vehicle here. OFFICER ZUBIA As I'm looking at the vehicle, I can see that there's, uh, anomalies in both driver side and passenger backrest. OFFICER ZUBIA We'll know once we get the anomalies out and we get everything tested. TRAVELER [speaking Spanish] Everything's okay, baby. Everything's okay. OFFICER ZUBIA So, this is something that we've seen quite often out here. Uh, they use kids as a distraction. A lot of people think that we're not gonna search a vehicle because they have minors in the vehicle. We'll go ahead and find out exactly what's in those seats to clear the anomalies that we were seeing on, uh, on the Z-Portal. OFFICER PAPA So, it is a female with her two little kids. There was actually a little girl sitting here and then her, I think she was about nine years old, sitting in the far seat. OFFICER PAPA Everything looks like a normal, normal person's car. Um, loaded with personal belongings. So we'll, we'll further inspect the vehicle and see if we can find what those anomalies were. It's right there. You see those two black bundles? And there's possibly more in there. [COMMERCIAL BREAK] OFFICER PAPA So, here, there's two black bundles with, uh, looks like black electrical tape. So, obviously, that shouldn't be in this backseat here. OFFICER PAPA You can feel there's some more up top. We're gonna test what's in this bundle. OFFICER PAPA And that way we can contact the Homeland Security Investigators. And to see if they want to do what's known as a controlled delivery. So, this would be the NIK kit. If it's a positive reaction for cocaine, it'll turn blue, a pink, or a blue on the bottom and pink floating. They usually pack these in many layers, so it's kind of hard to get in there. So you can see, it looks like it's a white powdery substance. If you see it change blue almost immediately? Cocaine. Now that we have a positive test for properties of cocaine in this bundle, we know that we're gonna seize the vehicle. So, we're gonna take everything apart. Check the door panels. We're gonna take out the seats. Basically, everything in this vehicle. We're gonna take it apart and make sure we're not missing any contraband. OFFICER All the way up in this seat. There we go. OFFICER PAPA Pass me those, I'll put them in. We were able to extract, uh, six total bundles from the, from the vehicle. OFFICER PAPA HSI's currently interviewing the subject to see if they're gonna pursue federal prosecution. And her two younger daughters are being picked up by a family member. It feels great to take these narcotics off the street. You do feel bad for the kids. They have to see their parents in handcuffs. But, yeah, any time we get one over on the cartels, it's, it's a win for us. It's a win for the public. SUPERVISORY OFFICER HUNDAL Here you go. Ma'am, just, just wait right there. We'll give you a chance to repack your bags, okay? SUPERVISORY OFFICER HUNDAL It does become a very challenging task touching meat that's packed for a couple of days before it arrives here. And when you open that, with the heat from outside, it built up a different texture and a, and a smell to it. Ma'am is this cooked or uncooked? TRAVELER It is not fresh, right? It's smoked. OFFICER ISLAM This is uncooked, raw meat. SUPERVISORY OFFICER HUNDAL What kind of meat is this? OFFICER ISLAM These are cow skin. SUPERVISORY OFFICER HUNDAL Cow skin. OFFICER ISLAM And these are cow feet. OFFICER ISLAM Cow, beef. OFFICER ISLAM Not allowed. SUPERVISORY OFFICER HUNDAL Okay. OFFICER ISLAM Okay? Because of Foot and Mouth Disease. OFFICER ISLAM And Mad Cow Disease. SUPERVISORY OFFICER HUNDAL You did your part today, you declared. So there is no penalty for you today. But next time, before bringing all this in, go onto the website. We have all the information on there. Where you can see what items you can bring in, what items you cannot. It's called, "Know Before You Go." She's not a habitual offender, so that's why, um, there is no action taken on her. However, the food will be seized and will be, uh, sent for destruction. All right, well, welcome back. TRAVELER Thank you. SUPERVISORY OFFICER HUNDAL The favorite part about my job I love is when we open the bags we don't know what's in it. It could be, you know, some nice, fancy clothes. Or it could be like today's exam where we have some meat that's almost rotten and everything and bugs coming out and all. You have to change, you have to adapt, given the situation at that time. So, that's the favorite part. Always active, always on your toes. CHIEF AUGUSTINO In fifteen years, it never ceases to surprise me the different things we see. And that's why here, at Dulles Airport, we're all one team. We wear the same uniform. We all try to keep an eye on each other and get each other's back. AGENT [speaking Spanish] Grab it whole. AGENT [speaking Spanish] Wait, wait, wait. AGENT [speaking Spanish] This weighs too much. AGENT [speaking Spanish] Give me that. I'll help you. AGENT They had a lot of different bricks packed together. And these bales are really big. I believe that we have, like, thirty-five bricks each. So, we're talking about three hundred kilograms (six hundred sixty-one pounds) of cocaine on this load. AGENT [speaking Spanish] It's heavy. Put it there. SPECIAL AGENT LUIS I'm taking a little sample from one of the bricks. SPECIAL AGENT LUIS Putting them into the, uh, narc test pouch. Make sure the powder's all the way at the bottom. Break the first one. Shake it off and it turns blue. Cocaine. RESIDENT AGENT IN CHARGE MARTINEZ Three hundred and seventeen bricks. RESIDENT AGENT IN CHARGE MARTINEZ Today was a great, great day. RESIDENT AGENT IN CHARGE MARTINEZ We were able to take out of the street three hundred and seventeen bricks of cocaine. Little by little, we're winning this war. We're here to do whatever we need to do in order to keep the streets safe. That's our main goal and today, this is a good victory for us, for law enforcement. [SNAP-IN] OFFICER BELLOTTE Tell me about your car, sir. TRAVELER Uh, they just gave it to me right now. OFFICER BELLOTTE Who? TRAVELER Some Mexican guy. OFFICER BELLOTTE Where? TRAVELER Over there on Paisano, the Circle K. OFFICER BELLOTTE He just walked right up to you and just said, "Here's my car. I don't want it." You ever met him before? TRAVELER Never. OFFICER BELLOTTE Okay, and where'd you guys meet? TRAVELER Circle K. OFFICER BELLOTTE Circle K. What were you doing at Circle K? TRAVELER Panhandling. OFFICER BELLOTTE Okay. Do me a favor, sir. You can't hang out facing this direction. I'm gonna need you to face towards the bus, okay? Just for your safety and for our safety. OFFICER BELLOTTE It's weird. OFFICER BELLOTTE I wouldn't take anything free from anyone, like, especially a car, that I just met at a gas station of all places. So, more than likely there's something in here and he probably got scared. Now we're searching. See what we can find if there's anything in here. TRAVELER He just popped out of nowhere. TRAVELER He said, "I want to give you this van." TRAVELER "Do you want it?" TRAVELER I go, "Yeah, I'll take it." TRAVELER I thought, I thought he was kidding. TRAVELER But then he goes, "Here's the title." TRAVELER I live right here in San Antonio. TRAVELER I'm in, uh, housing. TRAVELER I'm gonna park it outside. TRAVELER And, uh, try to sell it. OFFICER BELLOTTE I can't find anything. OFFICER No. All right, come on, sir. OFFICER BELLOTTE So, now we're gonna run it through our X-ray machine. See if they see anything that we can't see. I find it very strange that, in today's economy, someone would just give away something free. Especially right here when we are very close to the border. OFFICER ON RADIO This one's clear. OFFICER BELLOTTE Fortune was on his side, given his circumstances. We ran him through the X-ray machine. Everything came up clean. There was nothing in there. Nothing suspicious, so we just let him continue on his way.