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B-244300 1 (1992-04-03)

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               Comptroller General                                           '  -

               WAhlnton, DC, 20648.
               Decision




               Matter of:      Customs Inspectors Overtime

               File:           B-244300

               Date:           April 3, 1992

               DIGEST

               Payment of overtime compensation to Customs inspectors under
               19 U.S.C. § 267 is not warranted after suspected internal
               drug carriers have been subject to a strip search and an
               x-ray search that reveal reasonable suspicion 'that the
               individual is concealing drugs, The time spent monitoring
               the suspect at a hospital or other facility after a
               reasonable suspicion has been established is not part of the
               inspectional process for which overtime compensation is
               authorized under 19 U.S.C. § 267.

               DECISION

               The ,Commissioner of Customs has requested :a decision whether
               'the time :spent lby Customs inspectors monitor'ing persons who
               are :suspected of concealing drugs inside their ibodies
               involves inspectional. duties for ,which fovertime Is
               compensab'le under '19 'U.S.C. § 267 ((1988),, or whether  such
               :monitoring constitutes enforcement duties for which overtime
               is  compensated under the Federal  Employees Pay :Act of 1945
               ((FEPA),, 5 U.S.C. §§ -5542, '5546 (1988). '.The National
               Treasury Employees 'Union ,(NTEU),has filed comments on the
               Commissioner's request add supports the Commissioner's
               determination that the monitoring is compensable under
               19 U.S.C. § 267.

               'BACKGROUND

               The Commissioner states 'that the question ,of which overtiime
               law is applicable arises ifrom ithe fol'lowing _c'ircumstances,
               If a ,Customs inspector suspects that an individual entering
               the ,United States :may !be icarrying illegal (drugs .within Ibis
               or her ibody,, 'the individual :maY be subjected to :strip and
               x-ray :searches,. If, *based on these searches, ithe Customs
               inspector continues tto have :reasonable suspicion that the

               individual is concealing drugs, the inspector wit.11 accompany
               the suspect to a hospital or facility for monitoringsuntil
               the suspect lhas a 'bowel movement. This inspector will
               monitor the suspect until the end of the inspectors' tour of

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