Watch Customs: Fighting Crime at the Border

  • 2008
  • 3 Seasons

Customs: Fighting Crime at the Border is an engaging and hard-hitting documentary series that immerses viewers into the high-pressure, often harrowing lives of U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers. Shot in various points of entry, the series offers a behind-the-scenes look at the challenges, controversies, and triumphs faced by officers every day as they work to prevent drugs, weapons, and criminals from entering the country.

Each episode of Customs: Fighting Crime at the Border is packed with tense moments, as officers risk their lives and reputations in pursuit of smugglers and their illicit cargo. From the drug cartels trafficking narcotics from Mexico to the violent clashes that arise from immigration debates, the show does not shy away from the difficult issues that face border officers.

The series takes a verite approach, with cameras embedded with officers as they go about their daily duties. This allows viewers to see things as they happen, unfiltered and unedited, and brings a refreshing, raw energy to the series. It also makes it easier for viewers to understand the complex procedures and protocols that officers must follow to ensure safety and compliance.

One of the strengths of the series is how it shows the human side of the officers. We see their frustrations, their fears, and their determination to do good. This is a side of border control that is often ignored by the media, who often depict officers as uncaring, robotic, or worse. However, Customs: Fighting Crime at the Border shows a different side to these men and women, often revealing them to be empathetic, inclusive, and committed to protecting both the physical and emotional safety of those they apprehend.

Customs: Fighting Crime at the Border also discusses the political context surrounding the issues at the border. With every episode, we see how the wider political landscape affects the day-to-day workings of border officers. A change in leadership, a new policy, or a shift in priorities can mean big changes in how the officers do their jobs – and the issues they face.

Throughout the series, vieweres see officers trying to balance two objectives: to enforce the law and to protect the basic human rights of the people they encounter. There are no easy answers, and the show acknowledges this by showing the complexities of the issues, even when it might seem controversial or uncomfortable.

Ultimately, Customs: Fighting Crime at the Border provides a gripping and insightful look at the work of border officers. It's an important series because it brings the viewer closer to the people behind the headlines and soundbites, and offers a nuanced perspective on some of the most pressing issues of the day. By the end of the series, viewers are given a more empathetic understanding of the challenges, both physical and emotional, that these men and women face every day as they work to keep their country safe.

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Seasons
Don't Judge A Book By Its Cover
12. Don't Judge A Book By Its Cover
September 25, 2010
A student from Trinidad and Tobago arrives in the UK on a very expensive ticket which attracts the attention of the Gatwick border control. Customs arrest a man arriving from Barbados with cocaine in hidden compartments in his bags. Sniffer dogs are used to find cocaine hidden in hollowed out books.
Flying Fish
11. Flying Fish
September 18, 2010
A man arriving from Bolivia to Gatwick is found with somebody else's passport. At Bristol airport, customs seize 126 sleeves of cigarettes from three people arriving from Teneriffa. 43 kilos of fish are seized from a woman arriving from Libya. A man from Cameroon is entering the UK with $80,000 and a stamp with the text "UN Security".
Loopy Luggage
10. Loopy Luggage
September 11, 2010
Arriving from Montego Bay, a young man appears to be confused about which suitcase is his. A Brazilian man arriving from Spain is sweating profusely while his luggage is searched. Flying in from Moldova, a man has his luggage searched and is found to have entered the UK with four times the duty-free allowance of cigarettes. A young woman arriving from Libya is x-rayed for illegal drugs.
Something Swallowed, Something Blue
9. Something Swallowed, Something Blue
September 4, 2010
A man arriving from Port of Spain to his sister's wedding is x-rayed and found to have swallowed several objects before arriving in the UK. An elderly man arriving from Montego Bay enjoys having his luggage searched and is free to go. Two women arriving from Lithuania have their 4,500 Russian cigarettes seized by customs.
Cash, Cars, and the Caribbean
8. Cash, Cars, and the Caribbean
August 28, 2010
On the plane from Lanzarote, a group of Poles bring 37,000 cigarettes into the UK before being intercepted at the airport parking lot. A young couple arriving from the Caribbean arouses the suspicions of the border control, and a pipe is found in their luggage. Officers are also suspicious of an unemployed couple returning from an expensive Caribbean holiday.
Sneak Smarts
7. Sneak Smarts
August 21, 2010
A charitable worker arriving from Venezuela attracts the attention of the border control officers. Then, on an incoming plane from Jamaica, a woman is quite sick and the officers suspect her of having swallowed illegal drugs. Finally, a woman flying in from Trinidad and Tobago is asked about the purpose of her visit to the UK.
Serial Smoker
6. Serial Smoker
August 14, 2010
At Gatwick, a woman with a toddler and a man flying in from Jamaica are arrested for having 34 kilos of cannabis in their bags. Meanwhile, a man returning from a visit in Buenos Aires is asked about the $35,000 he is bringing. Then, a man and woman whose luggage is searched can not explain why they have brought untaxed cigarettes hidden in cereal boxes.
Vacation Vacancy
5. Vacation Vacancy
August 7, 2010
A Canadian man arriving from Barbados is acting very nervously when questioned, and border control suspects him of carrying drugs inside his body. A man and woman returning from a holiday in Malaga claims that the large quantity of tobacco is for personal use. A man returning to Birmingham from Morocco can barely accept that his luggage is searched.
Red-handed
4. Red-handed
July 31, 2010
At Gatwick, a man arriving from Port of Spain is discovered carrying 2.5 kilos of cocaine in his bag. A man arriving from Dubai is throwing a fit. A woman returning from a vacation in Trinidad and Tobago is nervous and crying when approached by customs officers. Finally, a repeat offender claims to be ignorant of the amount of cigarettes she can bring from Fuerteventura.
Acting Natural
3. Acting Natural
July 24, 2010
A couple flying in from Malaga are claiming that the thousands of cigarettes they have with them are for personal use. The clothes and sneakers of a young man arriving from Ibiza have traces of cocaine and amphetamine. A group of friends on their way from Birmingham to Pakistan are bringing suspiciously large sums of cash.
Unusual Suspects
2. Unusual Suspects
July 17, 2010
A grandmother loses her cool after a suspicious package is found in her laptop. Officers stop a young family from bringing in over 1,000 cigarettes. Finally, a search ensues after high traces of cocaine are found on a man in Gatwick.
Hard to Swallow
1. Hard to Swallow
July 10, 2010
A Bristol couple flying in from Malaga have their luggage stuffed with cannabis. A Dutch resident arriving from the Dominican Republic has swallowed condoms with cocaine. Two unemployed Geordies try to earn
Description
  • Premiere Date
    July 10, 2008