Behavioural cues as indicators of deception

An experiment was conducted to find whether customs officers have a better than chance ability to detect deceit. It also examined the possibility if certain behavioural cues can be associated with lying. Canada customs officers, at the International Bridge in Sault Ste Marie, referred vehicles to be searched for undeclared goods depending on either; 1) the person's behaviour in the vehicle or 2) the vehicles were randomly assigned to be searched. Both of the referral systems had outcomes no better than chance. Behavioural cues were found to play a role in trying to indicate deceit but they are not found to be the sole basis for actually detecting deceit.