Missouri houses four Ports of Entry into the United States. These are places through which all persons entering the United States must pass and be approved by persons holding U.S. customs jobs in Missouri. As a person enters the United States from another country, his or her person as well as any baggage or cargo he or she carries into the country must be inspected. The Customs and Border Protection Unit of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is responsible for regulation of the laws, policies and procedures of U.S. Customs and its employees. It’s also responsible for establishing training and education requirements for all U.S. Customs and border patrol jobs.
U.S. Customs Crimes in Missouri
Although Missouri does not have any border crossings on land or water, its ports of entry allow persons and goods to enter the United States via air. As would be expected, there are some crimes that U.S. Customs Officials who work in Missouri ports of entry must deal with. For example:
- During a four-day period in 2012, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested 33 individuals in the Kansas and Missouri areas, under charges including drunk driving, drug possession, domestic violence, violation of a protection order and battery
- In March 2012, 31 people in Kansas City and Independence, Missouri were indicted for attempted smuggling of $1 million in marijuana, methamphetamine and cocaine
Ports of Entry in Missouri
Ports of Entry found in Missouri include:
- St. Louis (Service Port for cargo processing)
- Facility: Lambert International Airport
- Kansas City
- Facility: Kansas City International Airport
- Springfield
- Spirit of St. Louis Airport
U.S. Customs Requirements and Job Titles in Missouri
Those holding U.S. Customs Jobs in Missouri are responsible for safeguarding Missouri’s ports of entry from possible terrorist activities, illegal immigrants trying to gain unlawful access to the United States, and from attempts to smuggle goods into the country. These customs jobs may be available in Missouri’s ports of entry:
Air Interdiction Agent – These professionals keep America’s skies safe from terrorists and illegal persons and goods who try to enter the country. They are law enforcement agents who work in the air. Requirements that one must fulfill to be considered for this position include:
- Be a U.S. citizen
- Pass a background security investigation
- Pass initial and random drug screening tests
- Have been a resident of the U.S. for the past three years
- Possess pilot certification
- Possess current FAA Class 1 Medical Certificate
- Provide the last page of a current flight log book
Operations Research Analyst – This position involves analyzing the processes used by the CBP and ICE to keep the U.S. safe from outside threats such as terrorists and illegal aliens. It is a research-heavy position. Requirements that one must fulfill to be considered for this position include:
- Be a U.S. citizen
- Pass a background security investigation
- Pass initial and random drug screening tests
- Have either a bachelor’s degree or 24 semester hours of education in one or a combination of the following areas:
- Statistics
- Operational research
- Probability
- Mathematics
- Science
- Mathematical logic
- Have one year of specialized work experience in the field (or a combination of graduate education and experience)