see also: in June 2006 News Releases:   CBP Border Patrol Seize Over 1.1 Million Pounds of Narcotics Through the Third Quarter of Fiscal Year   Full Enforcement for Wood Packaging Material Import Regulations to Begin July 5   U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers at El Paso Port of Entry Nab Man Wanted on Homicide Warrant   CBP Border Patrol Agents Seize Narcotics in Boat   CBP Border Patrol Nets Over $600,000 Thousand During Cocaine Seizure   U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers Discover Seven Pounds of Heroin Hidden Baseball Bats   Border Patrol Agents Rescue Nine People From Tractor Trailer ...more on cbp.gov:   Press Officers   CBP News Releases

contacts for this news release

Blountville, TN - U.S. Customs and Border Protection established its newest port of entry on June 15, 2006. Tri-Cities Regional User-Fee Airport will now be known as Port of Tri-Cities, TN\VA. There are now 326 official ports of entry in the United States. The port limits for Tri-Cities are the contiguous outer boundaries of Sullivan County, TN; Washington, County, TN; and Washington County, VA. The port code will change to 2027 from 2082. This change is part of CBP’s continuing effort to provide better service to carriers, importers, and the general public.

“This is an example of U.S. Customs and Border Protection moving forward to ensure the free flow of goods and services into the United States while preventing those wishing to do harm to our country from entering” said Robert Gomez, Director Field Operations Atlanta.

A "Port of Entry" is an officially designated location (seaports, airports, and or land border locations) where CBP officers or employees are assigned to accept entries of merchandise, clear passengers, collect duties, and enforce the various provisions of CBP and related laws. A “User-Fee Airport” is a small airport, which has been approved by the Commissioner of CBP to receive, for a fee, the services of a CBP officer for the processing of aircraft entering the United States and their passengers and cargo.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s top priority is to keep terrorists and their weapons from entering the United States. While welcoming all legitimate travelers and trade, CBP officers and agents enforce all applicable U.S. laws. CBP prevents narcotics, agricultural pests and smuggled goods from entering the country and also identifies and arrests those with outstanding criminal warrants.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) 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.