CBP wants you to drop a dime

Call it "CrimeWatch for Customs." U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in June launched an online reporting system that allows tipsters to confidentially notify the agency of suspected trade violations. Ever mindful of legal niceties, CBP has dubbed the system "e-Allegations."

To report a possible violation, an individual must submit the name of the company or person involved, and describe the products, the suspected violation, and what has happened to date. CBP says the system is not intended to address security issues; what the agency wants are reports of violations involving classification of merchandise, country of origin, health and safety, intellectual property rights, import quotas, and so forth.

For a reporting form and details about the program, go to www.cbp.gov.