For CBP, partnerships with industry have become essential. The agency has found that the vast majority of companies want to operate in compliance with customs regulations and procedures. By developing constructive relationships with these companies CBP combines its anti-smuggling efforts and multiplies their positive effect.

On the customs side, effective use of automation, risk management and making companies aware of security risks contribute greatly to improve enforcement. On the private sector side, this is met by a commitment to improving security infrastructure, ensuring compliance with customs requirements and continued sharing of information. Proof of the value of these partnerships is the tremendous support that CBP has received from carriers and other businesses participating in industry partnerships. As a result, more than 9,600 kilos of illegal narcotics have been seized in the United States and over 19,000 kilos have been intercepted in both domestic and foreign seizures based on information received from participating companies.

In recent years legitimate commerce has become a potential vehicle for money laundering and smuggling and has led CBP to undertake significant efforts to enter into partnerships with the private sector. These programs have set goals to bring about increasing awareness on the part of the transportation and trade industries of the threat posed by drug smugglers and to encourage them to improve security measures to counter that threat.

Currently there are more than 3,800 air, sea, and land carriers participating in the Carrier Initiative Program (CIP) and over 200 companies participating in the Business Anti-Smuggling Coalition (BASC).