see also: in April 2008:   U. S. Customs and Border Protection Seizes $1.3 Million Worth of Counterfeit Cigarettes   Border Patrol Launches Rhode Island Search   Border Patrol Agent Search Launches in Atlanta   Two Weeks = Two Tons of Marijuana Seized at Arizona Port of Entry   CBP Officers in Texas Find $3 Million Worth of Dope in 'Empty' Sea Container   New Jersey CBP Officers Make $4 Million Heroin Candy Bar Bust   Border Patrol Agents Locate More Than Half Ton of Marijuana ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers

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Mobile, Ala. - U.S. Customs and Border Protection Director, Field Operations, Atlanta, Mr. Robert C. Gomez has announced the appointment of Mr. Shawn Polley as CBP Area Director for Mobile, Ala.

Mr. Polley has served as acting Port Director in Mobile, responsible for all CBP operations at the Ports of Entry at Birmingham, Huntsville, and Mobile in Alabama, and at Gulfport, Pascagoula and Vicksburg/Jackson in Mississippi.

In this position, Mr. Polley oversees passenger processing, tactical and trade operations through the area’s air and sea ports, and the clearance of cargo for air, sea, rail and barge.

Director, Field Operations Robert Gomez says “Mr. Shawn Polley is a great choice for Area Port Director in Mobile, Alabama and will provide the leadership required for CBP covering Alabama and Mississippi.”

Mr. Polley began his career with U.S. Customs Service in 1992 as an inspector assigned to the Port of Cincinnati. He transferred to Memphis in 1996, was promoted to Senior Inspector in 1998, and then to Supervisory CBP Officer in 2003. He has been the Assistant Port Director, Tactical Operations, in Mobile since 2006.

Mr. Polley received the Commissioner’s Award for Law Enforcement in 2002 while leading the Port of Memphis Outbound Enforcement Program which focused on interdicting the transportation of unreported funds to criminals and alleged terrorists abroad. “Operation Oasis” led to the seizure of a combined total of over $12 million in currency and fraudulent monetary instruments being exported abroad.

Following Hurricane Katrina, Mr. Polley participated in recovery operations and port reconstruction for the Port of New Orleans.

Prior to joining U.S. Customs, he served four years in the U.S. Army and participated in Operation Just Cause in Panama in 1989-90, and served in the First Gulf War in 1990-91 with the 101st Airborne Division.

A native of Vanceburg, Ky., Mr. Polley is a graduate of Morehead State University in Morehead, Ky.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.