Division of Customs & Quarantine

Overview

The Division of Customs and Quarantine is responsible for the facilitation of trade, collection of revenue through the enforcement of excise taxes on imported goods and identifying and seizing prohibited (contraband) items imported to and exported from the CNMI.

Mission & Goals

The Division of Customs and Quarantine safeguards all ports of entry which includes the Seaport, Airport and U.S. Postal, from any importation of contraband, narcotics, illegal drugs and dutiable commodities.

The Division continues to strive to improve its operations on the front line as mandated by the CNMI laws and all applicable Federal laws.

Vigilance is how we ensure the safety of our island community. We are constantly watchful and alert to deter, detect and prevent threats to our islands. We exhibit courage and bravery in protecting our islands.

Professionalism is personified in the work we do. We are dedicated to defending and maintaining the laws of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. The island community have entrusted us to protect our borders.

Integrity is our foundation. We conduct ourselves by the highest ethical and moral principles, doing what is right, even when no one is looking. Our actions bring honor to ourselves and our agency.

Quick Links

Convenient access to available resources to better serve the people of the CNMI

Contact Us

Phone

Saipan: (670) 664-1610

Tinian: (670) 433-1610

Saipan: (670) 532-3666

Fax

(670) 664-1615

For General Inquiries

Main Office - Customs Seaport

Our Ports

CNMI Customs and Quarantine safeguards all ports of entry which includes the Seaport, Airport and U.S. Postal, from any importation of contraband, illegal drugs and dutiable commodities.

Seaport

Conduct clearance on all ocean vessels, which includes the assessment of manifest and all documents on arriving vessels and cargos and impose excise tax and receipt all payments due on excise tax and other fees pertaining to customs.
Inspect containers and loose cargos to prevent the importation of contraband and undeclared goods and to ascertain that articles contained therein are taxable, prohibited or restricted.
Process clearance for all cruise liners and its passengers.

Airport

Conduct clearance on all airlines (arriving passengers) through the inspection of passenger baggage and the collection of excise tax and receipt of payment due on excise tax and other fees pertaining to customs regulation.
Conduct clearance on inbound cargo through the inspection of cargo at the freight, including the manifest and assessment of documents on all incoming cargo and collection of excise tax and receipt of payment due on excise tax and other fees pertaining to customs regulation.

U.S. Postal

Inspect all mail and air parcels and detect and intercept goods, merchandise or other commodities for contraband.
Collect excise tax on all dutiable commodities and receipt of payment due on excise tax and other fees pertaining to customs.

Enforcement & Protection

Criminal Investigative Unit

This Criminal Investigative Unit is the backbone for all of Customs investigations of illegal narcotics and/or contraband. The officer assigned a case at any port of entry serves as the case agent and is responsible for the arrest and the case filing at the Office of the Attorney General for prosecution.

X-Ray Unit

The x-ray machine used facilitates and expedites the inspection of imported baggage and cargo. The machine is capable of penetrating through items that officers are not physical able to inspect.

Dog Detector Unit/ K9 Unit

This program currently has four canines serving all ports in detecting and locating illegal contraband and narcotics. The K9 unit of Dept of Public Safety has two dual-purpose canines that assist the department with detection of narcotics and the tracking and apprehension of wanted criminals.

Cargo and Passenger Clearances

Dutiable items are assessed excise tax and any illegal narcotics are referred to the Investigative Unit for further investigation and prosecution. At the Seaport, officers are tasked to detect dutiable items, illegal narcotics and/or contraband. At the Airport, officers facilitate arriving passengers, baggage, and other items.

Outreach and Education

The Division of Customs Service participates in various community outreach or presentations to demonstrate our mission and roles and more importantly, raise awareness on the Division's effort to prevent the importation of contraband and illegal narcotics. In addition to the units of K9, Investigation and X-ray, other sections, such as Assessment and Compliance, also participate in community events in providing outreach about the Division's role in safeguarding all ports.