CUSTOMS ADDS MANPOWER, REDUCES WAIT TIMES AT LAREDO

CUSTOMS ADDS MANPOWER, REDUCES WAIT TIMES AT LAREDO    U.S. Customs plans to reduce wait times to 20 minutes at its busiest Texas border crossing through more efficient traffic management and additional inspectors.
   Gene Garza, the agency’s port director in Laredo, outlined his plan to improve the efficiency of cargo and passenger processing at the port at a press conference earlier this week.
   Customs will work with the Immigration and Naturalization Service to adjust staff levels to peak hours for cargo and passengers. The agency will also shift commercial traffic to the World Trade Bridge; install license-plate readers; and ensure that senior-level supervisors monitor traffic volumes and authorize additional lane openings as necessary.
   Twenty-two new recruits will enter a 11-week training session at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Glynco, Ga.