Court Opinion

ID: 9459093
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-04 21:10:20.955817+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:36:01.163992
License: Public Domain

KILKENNY, Circuit Judge
(dissenting) :
Rather than a run of the mill nervousness, the officers observed an unusual nervousness on the part of appellant, a type of nervousness displayed by only 1% of the drivers of over 1,300 automobiles passing through the checkpoint on a given day. This curious nervousness was observed not only while appellant was at the wheel of her automobile, but also when she was attempting to open the trunk of the vehicle and on her arrival at the inspection station. Beyond that, she gave the officers an incredible story on the purpose of her visit to Mexico, i. e. she desired to show that country to her five year old grandchild. Additionally, when she was removing her clothing in the presence of the In-spectress, she took off her girdle and underpants at the same time and “. she was doing it in a rather peculiar fashion, like she was trying to hide something.” It was at this point that the Inspectress noticed the unconventional packet in the crotch of appellant’s underpants. I have doubt that the record supports the majority’s statement in Footnote 1 that “. . . the Inspectress’ suspicions about the bulge were wholly eliminated as soon as appellant had removed her dress . . . .” When asked about the contents of the packet, the appellant said that it contained heroin and cocaine.
This factual background presents a “skin” or a “clothing” search, rather than a “body cavity” search of the type involved in United States v. Guadalupe-Garza, 421 F.2d 876 (CA9 1970), the authority upon which the majority principally relies. The distinction between the two searches is recognized in United States v. Shields, 453 F.2d 1235, 1236 (CA9 1972) and United States v. Saville, 435 F.2d 871 (CA9 1970), cert. denied 403 U.S. 955, 91 S.Ct. 2276, 29 L.Ed.2d 865 (1971), rehearing denied 404 U.S. 906, 92 S.Ct. 195, 30 L.Ed.2d 179 (1971). The facts before the experienced Customs officers justified “a real suspicion” that appellant was carrying contraband and, in my opinion, warranted the questioned search.
I would affirm.