Additional personnel will ease current shortage

The head of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) told an industry group this week that the agency would be adding more personnel over the next two fiscal years.

Commissioner W. Ralph Basham said port inspectors and other front-line staff who are responsible for processing trade will help alleviate the shortage at the ports of entry, which has been caused in part by the transfer of Customs personnel to the southwest border to reinforce the Department of Homeland Security's Secure Border Initiative.

Importers have complained that fewer personnel have resulted in longer wait times for inspections and processing of cargo.