Customs Offense Detection and Evidence Procedures

📋 Course Outline

1. Purpose and documentation of customs offenses
2. Authorized agents for detecting offenses
3. Modes of recording offenses: PVC and PVS
4. Transaction acts and other evidence sources
5. Customs seizure procedure: agent powers
6. Search powers: visits, inspections and communications
7. Apprehension rights: seizure, retention and preventive hold
8. Capture and detention of offenders

📖 1. Purpose and documentation of customs offenses

🔑 Key Concepts & Definitions

• Customs offense finding : A customs offense finding consists of gathering evidence and recording the elements that make up the offense in an official document.
• Procès-verbal : A procès-verbal is the official written record where the constitutive elements of an offense are documented during the finding process.
• Constitutive elements : Constitutive elements are the specific facts that must be assembled and written down to establish that an offense exists.
• Control and investigation means : Control and investigation means are the legally granted tools that customs agents use to carry out checks and gather evidence.

📝 Essential Points