### Question
Can you define what officer of the customs means?


### Answer
**Officer of the customs** is defined as the following in *19 U.S.C. § 1709*:

> any officer of the Customs Service or any commissioned, warrant, or petty officer of the Coast Guard, or agent or other person authorized by law or by the Secretary of the Treasury, or appointed in writing by a collector, to perform the duties of an officer of the Customs Service

#### Citation:
  - *19 U.S.C. § 1709*
  - Heading: **CHAPTER 5-SMUGGLING**

