BALTIMORE – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Office of Field Operations (OFO) at the Port of Baltimore have seized 29 stolen vehicles so far in Fiscal Year 2015.
The vehicles were all destined to be exported from the Baltimore seaport with most of them slated to go to West African countries. The vehicles were a wide variety of makes and models.
Upon receipt of export documentation, CBP officers perform routine record checks before allowing the vehicle to be exported. When it is discovered that a vehicle is reported stolen CBP works with the reporting police agency to return the vehicle to its rightful owner and prosecute the car thieves.
“CBP is committed to upholding the integrity of international trade and intercepting stolen merchandise remains a priority,” said Dianna Bowman CBP area port director for the Port of Baltimore.
“Enforcement efforts such as these rely on the shared missions of CBP and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI),” said Adam Parks HSI assistant special agent in charge in Baltimore. “HSI and CBP coordinate on a daily basis to ensure the successful detection and disruption of transnational criminal activity.”
When exporting a vehicle, CBP must be presented an original document that shows the basis for ownership or right of possession, such as a bill of sale. The owner must also certify in writing that the procurement of the vehicle was a bona fide transaction, and that the vehicle presented for export is not stolen. For more on vehicle exportation requirements please visit the exporting a motor vehicle webpage.
CBP conducts inspection operations and intercepts currency, weapons, prohibited agriculture products and other illicit items.