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It's the stuff television shows are made of – special agents and officers apprehending and interrogating smugglers who try to sneak drugs and other contraband into the United States.
In a new National Geographic television series, viewers go behind the scenes with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the John F. Kennedy (JFK) International Airport as they uncover this criminal activity.
In this new television series, "To Catch a Smuggler," which premieres Monday, Oct. 8 at 9 p.m. EST/PT on the National Geographic Channel, cameras stay rolling throughout the entire investigative process. Viewers go into the interview room with HSI's JFK Narcotics Smuggling Unit as they identify, search and question smugglers.
Ranked as one of the busiest hubs for international travel, JFK International Airport is a hot spot for criminal activity.
"Each year, HSI special agents and CBP officers seize kilos of cocaine, crystal meth, heroin and other illicit drugs, worth millions of dollars, that criminals try to smuggle through JFK," said Brian Hale, director of ICE's Office of Public Affairs.
While watching the show, viewers will see how criminals, intent on smuggling different types of contraband into the United States, use varying tactics in an effort to trip up the special agents and officers.
"'To Catch a Smuggler' highlights our agency's important mission to protect the American public and the dedicated work of our employees" Hale said.
HSI is the largest investigative body in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and has a vast mission. Its special agents investigate the smuggling of narcotics, humans, weapons and other types of illicit contraband, as well as immigration crime, human rights violations, financial crimes, cybercrime and export enforcement issues.
"We are very excited to be a part of this new series," Hale said. "It truly shows federal law enforcement partnerships in action."
Millions of dollars of contraband are seized annually by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents, and officers with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport, one of the largest hubs for international travel in the United States. In a new series "To Catch a Smuggler," National Geographic TV takes you inside the action.
The ICE HSI JFK Narcotics Smuggling Unit, known as JNSU, is highlighted as members investigate cases involving seized drugs, or apprehend individuals who attempt to smuggle contraband into the U.S. The public can follow the special agents as they uncover criminal activity as National Geographic TV cameras go where people are rarely allowed – into the interrogation room with HSI special agents as they identify, search and question smugglers.
ICE committed to the filming in an effort to educate the American public about the important work HSI special agents do protecting Americans by upholding over 400 federal statutes and U.S. customs laws. As a young federal agency it is important for the public to understand that ICE is responsible for investigating a wide range of domestic and international activities arising from the illegal movement of people and goods into, within and out of the United States.
HSI investigates the smuggling of humans, narcotics, weapons and other types of contraband, as well as immigration crime, human rights violations, financial crimes, cybercrime and export enforcement issues, to name a few. ICE special agents conduct investigations aimed at protecting critical infrastructure industries that are vulnerable to sabotage, attack or exploitation.
The National Geographic TV series shows how people employ numerous methods to smuggle drugs into the country. In one episode an Ecuadorian man is interviewed by HSI special agents, and despite continued protestations, an x-ray reveals he's swallowed large pellets of liquid heroin.
Later in the series, a random baggage search by CBP officers of an 18-year-old teenager reveals cocaine in the lining of his luggage, seeping out through the cracks in his suitcase and mixing in with his clothes. After he's arrested, HSI special agents convince him to cooperate and start naming names.
The new series premieres Monday, October 8, at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT.
