NCJ Number
104926
Date Published
1986
Length
7 pages
Annotation
This article discusses the international sources, substance, and smuggling tactics for child pornography imported into the United States and the tactics and effectiveness of U.S. Customs in interdicting such materials.
Abstract
Because of restrictive Federal child pornography laws and aggressive law enforcement, virtually all commercially produced child pornography originates outside the United States. The traditional source countries are Sweden, Denmark, and the Netherlands. Adverse publicity has caused the Dutch and Danish governments to crack down on the production of child pornography, but materials are now coming into the United States from Southeast Asia, France, England, and West Germany. The materials contain explicit photographs of both heterosexual and homosexual contacts between children and between children and adults. U.S. Customs has the authority to take the materials out of the mail stream upon entering the United States, without the requirement of a search warrant. The mail is selectively searched based on point of origin and other factors. Letters are sent to addressees advising them that their mail contained contraband in violation of U.S. import laws. A list of addressees is maintained by the Customs Service. The materials are destroyed after being judged obscene by a Federal court. In late 1983 a task force composed of local and Federal law enforcement officials was formed to investigate recipients of pornography identified through the U.S. Postal and Customs Inspection Services. U.S. Customs has also developed proactive programs aimed at particular foreign distributors. Since September 1984, there has been a significant drop in the volume of child pornography seized by various foreign mail branches.