cannabisnews.com: X-Ray Sought as Alternative to Strip Search!





X-Ray Sought as Alternative to Strip Search!
Posted by FoM on February 23, 1999 at 18:31:09 PT

WASHINGTON After being sued several times over its strip searches, the Customs Service is asking Congress for $9 million for mobile X-ray machines to check travelers for illegal drugs. 
Commissioner Raymond Kelly told a House subcommittee Tuesday that the machines would allow more passengers to be searched without being touched by a customs agent. They also could be moved to closer to inspection points inside U.S. airports, eliminating the need for transporting passengers to X-ray machines in handcuffs, he said. Only a tiny percentage of the 69 million travelers entering the United States by air last year were asked to undergo some type of "personal" search by Customs agents looking for illegal drugs. Kelly said from 25 to 30 percent of the searched passengers were found to be carrying illegal drugs. Customs officials say tough tactics are necessary to catch the growing number of smugglers who swallow cocaine-filled balloons, insert packages of heroin into body cavities or even hide drugs under cover of a fake pregnancy. Inspectors use a variety of criteria in selecting passengers for searches, including information the agency has about them or because they are traveling from countries and on flights frequented by drug smugglers. Passengers are first interviewed and if inspectors think they may have drugs on them, they can be searched. Kelly, who has had his job only six months, told the treasury, postal services and general government panel of the House Appropriations Committee his agency also has hired a consulting firm on how to improve the agency's interaction with the public. Forms travelers are asked to complete have been made easier to understand, and some training has begun "to make our inspectors more culturally sensitive," he said. 
Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help




Comment #2 posted by FoM on February 24, 1999 at 07:28:59 PT
Your Right!
That's very true! My father in law has a pacemaker and I wonder what going thru an x ray machine would do to his or anyone's pacemaker!
FoM's Freedom Page
[ Post Comment ]

Comment #1 posted by thats so stupid on February 24, 1999 at 07:04:45 PT
too bad there will be even more lawsuits
Since x-rays cause cancer people who refuse and are forced to be subjected to cancer causing rays could have even more of a case for a good ol law suit
[ Post Comment ]

Post Comment


Name: Optional Password: 
E-Mail: 
Subject: 
Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message]
Link URL: 
Link Title: