Misawa Air Base resists black marketing

  • Published
  • By Airman Kenna Jackson
  • 35th Fighter Wing/Public Affairs
MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan --  Black marketing is not a physical place, but rather an economic activity in which merchandise or services are bought and sold illegally.

Black marketing, also called the "underground market," is so named because its activity is conducted "in the dark," outside the sight of law enforcement.

Black marketing on Misawa Air Base is an abuse of the Status of Forces Agreement between the U.S., Japan and Japanese Economic Law.

"Association with black marketing is a violation of the trust that the U.S. government has with the Government of Japan," said Capt. Christopher Stein, 35th Fighter Wing Judge Advocate chief of international law. "The GOJ has agreed to allow us to bring goods for consumer use onto Misawa Air Base, at no expense, as long as it's used on base or by base service members who fall under the SOFA agreement."

Black marketing is a crime that not only hurts the image of the U.S. military, but can directly affect the U.S. government. It can lead to the U.S. government paying for import fees and tariffs, which will cause the Army and Air Force Exchange Service's low prices to rise considerably.

The punishment for service members caught black marketing is persecution under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, said Stein.

If dependents of service members are caught black marketing, they will be processed through the Misawa Misconduct Adjudication program and could lose their privileges to shop in AAFES stores and the commissary. They would not be able to enter into any 35th Force Support Squadron buildings such as the bowling alley or the collocated club. The offenders may also be barred from the base entirely and are also subject to Japanese laws, said Stein.

Throughout the air base, Exchange personnel keep an eye out for signs of black marketing.

"AAFES works hard to thwart black marketing in its facilities by using training and controls, based on regulations and SOFA agreements, to deter this illegal activity such as binge buying," said Judd Anstey, AAFES public relations manager.

Binge buying, the excessive purchase of one product, is often associated with black marketing and negatively affects stock levels, which can take up to six weeks to replenish.

Though Exchange personnel have been trained not to confront binge buying customers, they fully cooperate with all local commands, criminal investigative agencies and host country Customs Enforcement agencies committed to the investigation of black market offenses.

"The main security message we have here is checking I.D. cards. When a shopper brings their merchandise to the check-out counter they are asked for it then," said Bob Preston, Misawa Commissary grocery manager.

But, it isn't only military personnel and civilian base workers who can help rid black marketing from the base. Everyone is needed to prevent black marketing and to keep the base a respectable home.

"I suggest that if anyone knows of suspected black marketing that they notify 35th Security Forces or the Air Force Office of Special Investigations," said Stein.