INS, CUSTOMS CHIEFS DENY CORRUPTION

WASHINGTON (AP) The U.S. customs and immigration agencies have
tightened internal controls, their chiefs told a Senate panel
Wednesday, but they denied any widespread corruption among federal
agents who police the Southwest border.

The two agency chiefs were summoned before the Senate Caucus on
International Narcotics Control to discuss a recent General Accounting
Office conclusion that drug traffickers' bribes represent a "serious
and continuing threat."

The Customs Service and the Immigration and Naturalization Service
intercepted more than 2 million pounds of marijuana, cocaine and other
illegal drugs last year. Most of the multibillion-dollar drug inflow
into the United States occurs at the Southwest border.

"The lure of huge profits generated by drug trafficking is undeniably
strong, especially for people of modest means who can earn a year's
pay in one afternoon simply by looking the other way," INS
Commissioner Doris Meissner said, calling corruption an "ever-present
threat" for her agency.

GAO, the investigative arm of Congress, concluded in a report last
month that Customs and INS could do more to deter and root out
corruption among their rank-and-file.

While both agencies are diligent in conducting background
investigations for new hires, GAO faulted them for falling behind in
conducting the reinvestigations required for staffers who have been on
the job for five years. GAO also said both agencies are missing
opportunities to examine past episodes of corruption to learn ways of
deterring future incidents.

Customs Commissioner Raymond Kelly said his agency is in the midst of
a major reorganization of its internal affairs division and has taken
other steps to reduce corruption, including setting up a toll-free
hotline for whistleblowers.

"Every review of Customs to date ... has concluded that no systemic
corruption exists at the agency," Kelly said. "Still, as the GAO
rightly pointed out, there are some things we can do better."

While Kelly said the rate of corruption within Customs is relatively
low, he added, "We have to be much more active in ferreting it out on
our own."

Meissner defended INS' internal controls as effective and showed
little enthusiasm for GAO's recommendation that her agency institute
financial reporting requirements for its employees. Customs already
requires financial disclosures.

But GAO Associate Director Richard Stana told the caucus that
financial disclosures by Border Patrol agents and INS inspectors could
turn up potential problems. Of the 28 INS and Customs employees
convicted of drug-related crimes in a six-year period examined by
GAO, six either were in debt or living beyond their means, Stana said.

In one instance, a mid-level Border Patrol agent owned a $200,000 home
with a five-car garage, an Olympic-size pool housed in its own
building, $45,000 in Treasury bills, 40 acres of land, six vehicles,
two boats and 100 weapons.

"It's vital that we develop tighter controls," said Sen. Dianne
Feinstein, D- Calif. "I am really worried about the spread of
corruption north of the border."

Meissner said INS already tracks credit reports and talks to neighbors
and friends about employees' financial means during background
investigations. Feinstein warned that she will introduce legislation
mandating financial disclosures every three years unless INS moves
forward on its own.

"The money that comes out of the (drug) cartels is just too big for
many people to withstand," Feinstein said.