In the Custom's House on Ellis Island in the harbour of New York City, Chief Steines and his usually able assistant Bill Hartwell are very upset over the fact that they've been unable to discover the method by which diamonds and gemstones are being smuggled into the city. Another bunch of diamonds has showed up at a jewellers on 8th Avenue, and now Customs are in a tough spot, as the media are reporting them as a laughing stock for their inability to stop the smugglers.