How to avoid US customs package seizure?

[Lostinspace 0]

I am out of college and now rarely have friends traveling abroad. Therefore, no one brings me little presents from Europe anymore.

What is the best way to avoid having packages seized by US customs? (Nothing illegal, just "prohibited merchandise".)

I already know the obvious answer.

Keep the dollar value down?
Avoid having recipient with a Middle Eastern name?
Deliver it to work?

[mnealtx 0]

First off.... "the obvious answer"

Secondly, there's no way to guarantee that it wont be inspected...it's a fairly random things.

Whichever way you go...good luck!

Oh, did I mention if you DO get "tagged" on a package being sent to you, you may just get a visit from some nice people to ask *WHY* someone was sending you that?

Mike
I love you, Shannon and Jim.
POPS 9708 , SCR 14706

[Darius11 12]

Avoid having recipient with a Middle Eastern name? ***



HEY........so what was your mailing address again.

I'd rather be hated for who I am, than loved for who I am not." - Kurt Cobain

[jumper03 0]

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Avoid having recipient with a Middle Eastern name? ***



HEY........so what was your mailing address again.

LOL - remind me to tell you a story about an Iranian post doc at MIT - we messed with him all the time and he was like a cat in a room full of rockers all the time.

Scars remind us that the past is real

[Lostinspace 0]

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Oh, did I mention if you DO get "tagged" on a package being sent to you, you may just get a visit from some nice people to ask *WHY* someone was sending you that?

I think what happens is they take out the contents of the package, seal it back up and replace it with a letter stating your stuff was siezed and that you have (3) options. (1) contest and lose (2) have your stuff destroyed or (3) pay to ship it back to sender.

[op5e 0]

Depending on what is being sent, and what the laws are in your state. I mean take the extreme example of drugs, they will definately follow up on that one. But then lower things it just depends on the laws, quantity etc.. but yes the possibility is there that you could get visits.

[Lostinspace 0]

not drugs

[op5e 0]

Yeh, I definately know it wasnt drugs. It was just an example.

Depending on what it is. Some items that I know get sent around that are prohibited are sent via fedex or airexpress. Because alot of the laws are based around being "sent via UPS". Also ensure the sender places things such as gift or uses generic labels which are close to the truth. Also ensuring all the correct labels and tick in the boxes so that there is less chance that they will have to investigate further.

But like going through the airport. Sometimes people get pirated videos. Unless they have 20 copies of the same damn video they are not going to get picked. Well depending on the country or the boarder you are crossing but as a general rule.

[wingnut 0]

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not drugs

absynth maybe??? lol... that's the only thing besided cuban cigars i can think of that most everyday people would be trying to bring into the country that are "prohibited"....

______________________________________
"i have no reader's digest version"

[AlexInTheSky 0]

Are they comming from Amterdam!??!

-----------------------------------

how much is it worth a minute of unexplainable freedom =)

[op5e 0]

absynthe not prohibited here

[2fat2fly 0]

I had my package seized at the airport a few weeks ago, the only thing that bothered me was the way he smiled and licked his lips

I am not the man. But the man knows my name...and he's worried

[Guest]

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Oh, did I mention if you DO get "tagged" on a package being sent to you, you may just get a visit from some nice people to ask *WHY* someone was sending you that?

I think what happens is they take out the contents of the package, seal it back up and replace it with a letter stating your stuff was siezed and that you have (3) options. (1) contest and lose (2) have your stuff destroyed or (3) pay to ship it back to sender.

Uh, close, but no Cuban Cigar.

If it's prohibited (like counterfeit merchandise [e.g., bogus Rolex watches], or on the bootleg list (like Cuban cigars) it's forfeit, period. It gets destroyed (I personally helped destroy several dozen Havanas...crushed their little aluminum tubes and all....oh, the pain...).

If it's something that is highly illicit (e.g., dope), the recipient gets investigated, or worse, gets set up for a sting.

If it's something that ISN'T prohibited but is supposed to have been reported and duties paid, the recipient gets a nice letter from the Feds saying that their property is being held in lieu of remittance of duty. If duty isn't paid within the amount of time stated in the letter, the merchandise is forfeit.

Stuff like that winds up at auction, usually in LA.

You can verify all this with a phone call to an Import Specialist at Customs (can you tell I used to work there? heh).

Funny anectdotal story. Customs inspectors at an airport somewhere in the Northwest told me this one.

The were searching packages for child pornography, and came across a package from Canada that had a videotape in it.

The tape featured a woman and a horse.

After laughing their collective asses off, they said, "Nope, no kiddie porn here - let it go!" and sent the tape on its way.

mh

.

"The mouse does not know life until it is in the mouth of the cat."