THE EXISTENCE OF EXTENSIVE BORDER AREAS AND SOPHISTICATED SMUGGLING TECHNIQUES MAKES IT DIFFICULT FOR CUSTOMS OFFICIALS TO INTERDICT SMUGGLING TRAFFIC AT THE BORDER. HOWEVER, THE USE OF ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY AND IMPROVED EQUIPMENT BY CUSTOMS OFFICIALS IS BELIEVED TO HAVE INCREASED THE RISK OF BORDER SMUGGLING. SOME OF THESE ADVANCED TECHNIQUES INCLUDE THE USE OF PROFILES, COMPUTER SCREENING, AND OTHER SYSTEMS DESIGNED TO IDENTIFY POTENTIAL SMUGGLERS IN PASSENGER INSPECTIONS; THE USE OF DETECTOR DOGS TO LOCATE NARCOTICS AND EXPLOSIVES IN VEHICLES, VESSELS, AIRCRAFT, CARGO, AND MAIL; THE DEVELOPMENT OF DETECTION TECHNIQUES BASED ON VAPOR DETECTION, X-RAYS, NEUTRON RADIATION, AND THERMAL ENERGY; AND THE USE OF A VESSEL VIOLATION PROFILE SYSTEM WHICH IDENTIFIES VESSELS SUSPECTED OF BEING INVOLVED IN LARGE-SCALE SMUGGLING OPERATIONS; AND IMPROVED AIRCRAFT AND RADAR CAPABILITIES ARE ALSO IN USE. A PRIVATE AIRCRAFT REPORTING SYSTEM ASSISTS AIR UNITS IN IDENTIFYING SMUGGLER AIRCRAFT. THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE TREASURY ENFORCEMENT COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM, A REAL TIME NETWORK WITH ALMOST 900 TERMINALS, PERMITS INSTANTANEOUS ACCESS TO ENFORCEMENT DATA BY NAME, VEHICLE LICENSE NUMBER, AND VESSEL OR AIRCRAFT NUMBER. EFFORTS ARE ALSO MADE TO COORDINATE CUSTOMS ACTIVITES WITH THE OPERATIONS OF OTHER AGENCIES INVOLVED IN COUNTERING PARTICULAR TYPES OF SMUGGLING OPERATIONS AND INCLUDE JOINT TRAINING FOR PROGRAMS INFORMATION. THE NUMBER OF BORDER PATROL AGENCIES AT VARIOUS STATIONS AS OF JANUARY 31, 1978, IS PROVIDED. (RCB)