Wayne Kemp and François Cusson describe how customs officers do their work

This videoclip is an excerpt from an interview with Wayne Kemp and François Cusson that Héritage Sutton recorded in February 2020.

Wayne Kemp: When somebody arrives at the boarder with dark glasses, you don’t talk to them until they take their glasses off. You have to have eye contact. Another thing, people should not arrive at the boarder eating because that shows that they are nervous about something. So those people automatically that’s a sign to you to be more particular with those people.

François Cusson: Well, for me, obviously when I worked at Abercorn, the scenario that stands out the most involves people who pass through every day and say “François, I have nothing, François, I have nothing, François, I have nothing … and then one day it happened they say “François, I have nothing, nothing”. You can check. Just the fact that the pattern was different that day, I told him to move aside, and then I hit the jackpot! (Laughs.) It was liquor … and let’s just say the car had to have a good suspension that day (laughs). Oh yes. It’s often just a reflex. Like when your hand is on the steering wheel and for some reason you move it to hide your ring, well then I’d look at the ring. It’s small details, but often they result in so much. With experience you come to see that it’s really obvious. And the others say: “No, no, no! (Laughs).

Interviewer: But what makes nervousness seem abnormal rather than normal?

François Cusson: I think it’s the exaggeration … either of wanting too much to hide something or wanting to seem too much at ease. It’s both extremes. When I worked at the airport for about ten years I didn’t know the people going by and they didn’t know me, so it’s strange when people try to be too friendly. It’s the exaggeration. That’s usually the clue.