Sanctions for improper actions by CBP officers or employees.

§ 103.34 Sanctions for improper actions by CBP officers or employees. (a) The improper disclosure of the confidential information contained in CBP documents, or the disclosure of information relative to the business of one importer or exporter that is acquired by a CBP officer or employee in an official capacity to any person not authorized by law or regulations to receive this information is a ground for dismissal from CBP, suspension, or other disciplinary action, and if done for a valuable consideration subjects that person to criminal prosecution. (b) Under 5 U.S.C. 552(a)(4)(F), the Special Counsel, Merit Systems Protection Board, has authority, upon the issuance of a written finding by a court that a CBP officer or employee who was primarily responsible for withholding a record may have acted arbitrarily or capriciously, to initiate a proceeding to determine whether disciplinary action is warranted against that officer or employee. Such proceedings are governed by Merit Systems Protection Board regulations found at part 1201 of Title 5 of the Code of Federal Regulations. [T.D. 81-168, 46 FR 32565, June 24, 1981. Redesignated by T.D. 96-36, 61 FR 19838, May 3, 1996, as amended by CBP Dec. 15-16, 80 FR 71693, Nov. 17, 2015]