To be fair, since most cross border freight is not physically examined, CBP also uses paperwork examination to look for deviations from a company's normal course of business. The theory is, if today's commercial invoice (this data is transmitted in advance) looks oddly different from yesterday's commercial invoice, maybe that's not Company A's goods in that seacan. So what's in the seacan?thanks for making my point, that's why we want a free open border. Borders are nothing but palm greasing stations. The republican party is polluted and can't survive without their loyal 20% who are afraid of anybody that doesn't look like Mommy.
But mainly it's about collecting duties and taxes. : )