U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), a division of the Department of Homeland Security: assesses and collects duties and taxes on imported merchandise processes persons and baggage entering and exiting the United States collects import and export data for international trade statistics controls carriers, goods and people entering and leaving the U.S.to prevent terrorism, smuggling and illegal/fraudulent entry into the United States.CBP officers are authorized to arrest, penalize and/or detain violators and seize merchandise imported contrary to law.