How Customs Works

In this episode of Stuff You Should Know, Josh and Chuck dive into the fascinating world of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, exploring everything from its origins with the founding fathers to modern-day operations. They cover the wild world of contraband smuggling - from monkey meat in Parisian airports to creative cocaine concealment methods involving snakes and fake casts - while explaining how customs agents use everything from drug-sniffing beagles to truck-sized X-ray machines to keep our borders secure. The hosts also break down duty-free exemptions, trade embargos, and why that innocent piece of fruit from your vacation could potentially destroy millions of dollars worth of crops.