Wait, you are supposed to check in to customs?  In the town of Ely?  So let me get this straight, you can paddle across, stash whatever you were smuggling in the woods, then check in with customs, and then go pick up whatever it is you were smuggling?  

Sounds like more of a hassle for regular people than anything else.  The whole notion that someone with something to hide is actually going to check in with whatever they are hiding in the hopes the customs agent doesn't find it is absolutely absurd.  They are better off doing random checks at Prairie Portage or something.  More annoying, yes, but at least it would be effective.