Customs opens an office

In 1984 and 1985, Southwest Florida Regional Airport began to serve its first Canadian charters. (That first year, incidentally, 8,000 Canadians came into our area on charter flights. By 1992, that number had swelled to 88,000 Canadians.) In those early years, the Canadian visitors were precleared through Toronto. As the numbers soared, officials with RSW petitioned U. S. Customs to provide a Federal Inspections facility here to function not only in the area of Customs, but also immigration, public health and agriculture.

It was agreed the office here would be a user fee facility, meaning all expenses would be paid out of Airport Operations Revenue. On July 14,1987, a Federal Inspections station opened here.

At this writing, U. S. Custom agents William Frazier and Allan Pedrazas handle any problems that arise locally with passengers or cargo. Any private yachts or vessels coming into the area, U. S. boats from a foreign country or flying a foreign flag also fall within their jurisdiction for clearance.

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