OPINION
Mаstberg appeals her conviction of unlawful importation of heroin in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 952(a) and 960(b) (1), charging that evidence derived from a body-cavity search should have been suppressed. We affirm.
Mastberg and two male companions entered the United States from Canada approximately 3:00 a. m. at the Blaine, Washington, port of entry. Customs inspector Hassebrock saw open chocolate milk cartons in the vehicle and, upon questioning the occupants of the car, noticed that Mastberg and the driver were nervous and restless. Hassebrock requested the assistance of another inspector and asked the occupants to get out of the car. After observing needle marks on the arms of all three individuals, the inspectors esсorted them to the customs building where they searched the trio’s clothing. Hassebrock’s search of Mastberg’s purse revealed a plastic bag which contained some balloons. A strip search of the two males revealed nothing. A matron accompanied Mast-berg to a search room and conducted a strip search. Mastberg removed her clothing and told the matrоn that she was wearing a tampon because she was menstruating. The matron testified that she saw a double or looped string protruding from Mastberg’s vagina instead of one string which the matron said was normal for a tampon. After the matron asked Mastberg several times to remove *467 the tampon, she finally told her that if she did not remove it a medical doctor would be called to do so. Reluctantly admitting that she had something other than a tampon in her vagina, Mastberg removed a prophylactic with three balloons inside, each containing heroin.
Mastberg asserts that there were no objective, articulable facts to establish a real suspicion justifying a strip or skin search. In addition, she argues that the search was in fact a body-cavity search and that even if thеre was a real suspicion for a strip search, there was no clear indication that she was carrying contraband and thus the body^cavity search was illegal.
I. THE STRIP SEARCH
The first phase of the matron’s search was a strip or skin search. In order for the search to be valid, the government agent must have a real suspicion prior to the suspect’s disrobing.
“Real suspicion” justifying the initiation of a strip search is subjective suspicion supported by objective, ar-ticulable facts that would reasonably lead an experienced, prudent customs official to suspect that a particular person seeking to cross our border is concealing something on his body for the purpose of transporting it into the United States contrary to law.
The objective, articulable facts must bear some reasonable relationship to suspicion that something is concealed on the body of the person to be searched; otherwise, the scope of the search is not related to the justification for its initiation, as it must be to meet the reasonableness standard of the Fourth Amendment.
United States v. Guadalupe-Garza,
1. Mastberg and the driver of the car appeared “nervous” and “restless.”
2. The customs inspector observed open chocolate milk cartons in the car.
3. All three of the suspects had needle marks on their arms.
4. The inspector found balloons in Mastberg’s purse.
5. The two male companions were strip-searched and no contraband was found.
Mastberg, citing three of our prior cases, United States v. Holtz,
In Shields, we stated:
Appellant’s nervousness (reflected in an uncomfortable, rigid posture, high-pitched and strained voice, avoidance of the inspector’s eyes, and exaggerated emphasis upon the plaster of Paris souvenirs purchased across the bordqjr); the needle marks upon her arms, including one or two thаt were “seeping,” and hence only one to four hours old; similar marks upon her companion’s arms; and the shortness of their visit (one to one-and-a-half hours) were “objective, articulable facts that would reasonably lead an experienced, prudent customs official to suspect” that she was concealing contraband on her body.
We consider that the customs аuthorities in this case had a “real suspicion” sufficient to order appellant to strip. They testified that appellant appeared nervous and his eyes were pinpointed not unlike those of one under the influence of narcotics. He had a number of fresh needle marks on both arms. A search of his wallet revealed three rolled-up cotton balls of the kind frequently еmployed by narcotics users.
We accept Mastberg’s argument that in
Holtz
and
Shields
the facts were stronger support for real suspicion of smuggling than the facts of this case. We do not necessarily agree, however, that the facts in
Summerfield
are any stronger than those presented here. In addition, there are other cases from our own circuit in which the facts, as compared to those in this case, were no stronger yet no weaker. For example, in United States v. Gil de Avila,
Evеn if we were to concede that the facts in this case were weaker than the facts in our prior cases, Mastberg’s point would not be well taken. Comparing a case before us with our other cases may, at times, be helpful. But we are not concerned with whether the government had a better case in Holtz or Shields than in this case; the question is whether, on these facts alone, the search was reasonable under the real suspicion test.
Nevertheless, case comparison is helpful in determining what is important when the test is applied. In analyzing our border search cases, we find that ■certain factors have been instrumental in establishing a real suspicion of smuggling. Also, certain factors tend to bear a more direct relationship to suspicion of smuggling than оthers. Some of these factors are present in this case. For example, a person’s nervousness while crossing the border is frequently a fact taken into account in determining whether to conduct a strip or body-cavity search.
Holtz, supra,
Obviously, some of the factors in the present case are more important than others in determining whether a real suspicion of smuggling was established. If we were to consider each of the factors separately, the needle marks would be the most likely indicаtion of smuggling and the element to which we lend greater weight. In degree of relative importance, nervousness would rank next. Neither the needle marks nor the nervousness can be considered totally innocuous. However, the milk containers 2 and balloons 3 each considered separately could be totally innocuous and are the least likely indication of smuggling. Many persons crossing the border probably carry balloons or open liquid containers and yet do not arouse a suspicion of smuggling. The open liquid containers and the balloons, even when considered together, could be totally innocuous. However, we do not view each of these separately to determine the reasonableness of the search. We must consider the totality of the fаctors, viewing them in the light of an experienced customs inspector, when determining the legality of the strip search.
Considering the evidence in this light, we view the facts as follows. The trio crossed the border at 3:00 a. m. Their nervousness aroused some suspicion. The open liquid containers coupled with the knowledge that addicts frequently carry liquids with them aroused further suspicion. The needle mаrks indicated that the travelers were possible addicts and certainly heightened suspicion. The balloons, coupled with the knowledge that they are frequently used to smuggle contraband in body cavities, added to the suspicions. The two male suspects were strip-searched first. The results were negative. When the strip search of Mastberg’s companions revealed nothing, suspiciоn on Mastberg was heightened. 4
While any single objective, articulable fact in this case might not support the conclusion of attempted smuggling, the test is whether all the facts viewed as a whole by an experienced customs inspector would lead to the necessary satisfaction of the real suspicion test. The district court found real suspicion existed. Mastberg has not met her burdеn of demonstrating that the trial court was wrong.
II. NERVOUSNESS AS EVIDENCE
Mastberg argues that the district court erred by receiving and relying upon “nervousness” as an articulable fact because the only evidence of ner *470 vousness was the opinion testimony of a witness. After one of the customs inspectors testified on direct examination that Mastberg was “nervous,” her counsel sought to attack that testimony:
Q. But you didn’t write anything down there as to what facts indicated nervousness?
A. I remarked “extreme nervousness”. [On the search report] Q. Wouldn’t you feel that is your subjective evaluation of her based on your experience?
A. Yes, it is.
Q. There aren’t any objective facts you can point to at this time which would indicate this nervousness? I’m referring to such things as shying eyes away, fiddling with her hands, anything like that, is that a fair statement?
A. Nо, I couldn’t at this time single out any one specific item when I say nervousness.
Mastberg argues that the inspector’s testimony on nervousness did not contain any objective facts and therefore it cannot support real suspicion. We disagree.
Testimony about corporeal appearances such as nervousness and drunkenness have produced considerable controversy. While the older view might preclude witnesses from giving their “opinion” on whether a particular person appeared nervous or intoxicated, under the modern, and probably majority, view a lay witness may state his opinion that a person appeared nervous or intoxicated.
E. g.,
People v. Smith,
We hold that the procedure followed at the suppression hearing was correct. The inspector testified that Mastberg appeared nervous and counsel on cross-examination sought to attack that testimony by asking about the underlying facts. The inspector testified that he could not pinpoint the specific fact which led him to believe that Mast-berg was nervous. He did not write down the facts on the search report. He only wrote on the searсh report that she appeared nervous. His testimony on nervousness was admissible. The trier of fact must weigh the accuracy of the testimony of the customs inspector and judge its credibility. Here, the trier of fact presumably resolved the factual issue in favor of the government. None of the trio testified and disputed the accuracy of the inspector’s testimony. We cannot say that the trier of fact should have disregarded the testimony of nervousness.
III. THE INSPECTORS NEED NOT RELATE THE BASIS FOR THEIR SUSPICIONS TO THE MATRON
The matron admitted that the other inspectors did not tell her about the circumstances which they thought justified the strip search of Mastberg. Therefore, Mastberg contends the search is invalid because the person searching did not possess all of the articulable facts justifying the intrusion. The testimony of the matron demоnstrates that she knew that the inspectors believed they had evidence that
*471
Mastberg was attempting to smuggle something, otherwise they would not have called upon her to conduct a strip search. It would be an absurdity and a miscarriage of justice for us to reverse this case simply because the inspectors did not communicate to the matron what they considered to be objective, articulable facts to justify a strip search. To require the inspectors to convey the basis of their suspicion to the matron would only be a meaningless gesture which could serve no useful purpose for either law enforcement or protection of an individual’s personal rights. In United States v. Velasquez,
IV. THE BODY-CAVITY SEARCH
Finding a justification for the strip search, however, only begins our inquiry. Mastberg contends that before the contraband was seized, a body-cavity search had occurred and the clear indication test must be met. We agree.
In Rivas v. United States,
During the course of the strip search, the matron observed that Mast-berg was nervous and that she had needle marks on her arms. She also observed a double string protruding from Mаst-berg’s vagina, indicating that an object was concealed therein. Since the string was plainly visible during the strip search, it could properly be considered by the matron in applying the clear indication test.
Holtz, supra,
We hold that the above facts provide a clear indication of smuggling.
V. REQUIREMENT OF WARRANT
Mastberg has made a very lengthy and detailed argument contending that the Fourth Amendment’s mandate of reasonableness dictates that border searches of the person be performed only after a warrant has been obtained. We reject this contention. United States v. Mason,
Affirmed.
J. Wigmore, Evidence § 1974 (3d ed. 1940) (footnote omitted).
Notes
. tVe view the testimony about the milk cartons as an indication of the type of paraphernalia sometimes carried by addicts. On this point, we note similar testimony in
Bum-merfield
where inspectors found three cotton balls of the kind frequently employed by narcotics users. The inspectors testified that addicts frequently carry similar cotton balls.
. The single factor of the milk cartons is not a likely indication of smuggling. As Mast-berg points out, many travelers or vacаtioners in the countries surrounding our border are likely “to carry some form of consumable liquid, e. g., coffee, soda pop, or containers for such liquids” and “the presence of such articles cannot reasonably be regarded as suspicious.”
. Mastberg argues that the balloons “are entirely innocent in themselves and are a great (leal more indicative of an innocеnt use than of smuggling. Certainly if appellant had had a child with her on crossing the border, the inspector would not have given these balloons or the milk cartons a second thought.” Children in the car might allay any suspicious character of the balloons. However, there were no children in the oar when Mastberg crossed the border.
. In Holtz, we held :
[F]acts derived from “the companions of the subject of the strip search can be considered in determining when such a search may be justified.” United States v. Gil de Avila,468 F.2d 184 , 186 (9th Cir. 1972). See United States v. Shields,453 F.2d 1235 , 1236 (9th Cir.), cert. denied,406 U.S. 910 ,92 S.Ct. 1615 ,31 L.Ed.2d 821 (1972).
. In the section in Wigmore’s treatise on evidence which discusses corporeal appearances of persons such as intoxication, it is asserted :
The Opinion rule is often sought to be applied to forbid compendious descriptions of the appearances externally indicating internal states, — for example, whеther a person “looked” sick or sad or angry. There is no more reason in this class of cases than in the preceding one for the Opinion rule to exclude tbe testimony. The exclusionary rulings here abound particularly in absurdities and quibbles, — highly fit for cynical amusement, were not the names of Justice and Truth involved in their consideration. One may wonder bow long these solemn farces will be perpetrated in our law.