Interesting note about US customs

markem · 03-16-2009, 10:19 PM

A month or so ago, I got the "pat on the head, you poor ignorant bastage" letter from US customs regarding a MAW that they intercepted from Canada (note: please don't include notes in packages going through customs, it makes denial much harder).

Anyway, fast forward to this past 10 days and my trip to New Zealand. Every place that US customs could intercept my bags, they were inspected (for training purposes and because my US comrades want the government to do this, so they acquiesce). Never had a bag searched by customs before. No personal searches, just bag searches.

Quite interesting.

karmaz00 · 03-16-2009, 10:24 PM

that is interesting

K Baz · 03-16-2009, 10:32 PM

I have often believed that customs keeps a naughty and nice list.

Remember just because your paranoid doesn't mean they are not watching you.

GoodFella · 03-16-2009, 10:33 PM

Nabinger16 · 03-17-2009, 05:02 AM

That's kind of crappy. I never really thought about them keeping a black list or anything like that. Makes sense though, sneaky little bastards.

HK3- · 03-17-2009, 05:04 AM

Sorry to hear that. It can definately make a trip not fun anymore.

03-17-2009, 05:19 AM

Yep, it sure seems you made the naughty list.

Blueface · 03-17-2009, 07:24 AM

Fear not.
There is hope down the line for you.

I know a guy quite well that travels quite often to the land I would love to see again. I unfortunately don't have the same set of cojones he does.

He always brings back tons of stuff which he often shares with me and others (rarely smokes, mostly coffee and rum). About a year ago, he had a very nice bottle of that you know what Club rum (not the 7, I think it was the 15) that I specifically requested he bring me and it got confiscated upon arrival here, along with tons of other stuff. I think he had like 10 bottles alone, lots of coffee, the stuff we smoke, and so on. They even pulled him into a "special" room and had him sweating profusely for quite a while.

Well, he just got back from another trip and tells me he has a bottle of the 7 year for me and brought back lots of stuff. Was never questioned. Go figure. Is that a set of cojones or what?

icantbejon · 03-17-2009, 08:34 AM

It hasn't happened to me, but I can relate to this story. Growing up, I lived very close to the canadien boarder. My brother used to cross on a very frequent basis cause he was seeing some chick. He got stopped once for a problem and from that point forward, ever time he went across they stopped him and questioned him thoroughly. He was also inspected quite regularly as well following that one time.

rizzle · 03-17-2009, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vstrommark

A month or so ago, I got the "pat on the head, you poor ignorant bastage" letter from US customs regarding a MAW that they intercepted from Canada (note: please don't include notes in packages going through customs, it makes denial much harder).

Anyway, fast forward to this past 10 days and my trip to New Zealand. Every place that US customs could intercept my bags, they were inspected (for training purposes and because my US comrades want the government to do this, so they acquiesce). Never had a bag searched by customs before. No personal searches, just bag searches.

Quite interesting.

Always seems to me that the safest place to have something is on your person. They never check me, just my bags.

Interesting indeed.

WildBlueSooner · 03-17-2009, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blueface

Fear not.
There is hope down the line for you.

I know a guy quite well that travels quite often to the land I would love to see again. I unfortunately don't have the same set of cojones he does.

He always brings back tons of stuff which he often shares with me and others (rarely smokes, mostly coffee and rum). About a year ago, he had a very nice bottle of that you know what Club rum (not the 7, I think it was the 15) that I specifically requested he bring me and it got confiscated upon arrival here, along with tons of other stuff. I think he had like 10 bottles alone, lots of coffee, the stuff we smoke, and so on. They even pulled him into a "special" room and had him sweating profusely for quite a while.

Well, he just got back from another trip and tells me he has a bottle of the 7 year for me and brought back lots of stuff. Was never questioned. Go figure. Is that a set of cojones or what?

This dude has a pair! Way to stick it to the man!

03-17-2009, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rizzle

Always seems to me that the safest place to have something is on your person. They never check me, just my bags.

Interesting indeed.

That would seem safer, however consider this. If they find it in your bag, you can always claim you forgot to take it out and use it before returning.

If they find it on your person, it's smuggling. No forgets about it. Then, if you think you were on a "bad" list before, see what happens the next time!!

WWhermit

:

MedicCook · 03-17-2009, 07:30 PM

I got pulled out of line on my way back from Germany a few years back. I had nothing to confiscate so I had no problems.

boonedoggle · 03-17-2009, 07:31 PM

you should cut someone!

ucla695 · 03-17-2009, 08:13 PM

Interesting. I hope there's not a bad list, but it seems like there's something to it.

rizzle · 03-18-2009, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WWhermit

That would seem safer, however consider this. If they find it in your bag, you can always claim you forgot to take it out and use it before returning.

If they find it on your person, it's smuggling. No forgets about it. Then, if you think you were on a "bad" list before, see what happens the next time!!

WWhermit

:

I guess you've got a good point, but I've never seen them tell someone in the line to dump their pockets or pull up your pants legs, etc.

Blueface · 03-18-2009, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rizzle

I guess you've got a good point, but I've never seen them tell someone in the line to dump their pockets or pull up your pants legs, etc.

Wait a minute................

oh crap.........................

You mean that cavity search they did on me is not standard procedure?

markem · 03-18-2009, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blueface

You mean that cavity search they did on me is not standard procedure?

Face it, Carlos, you are special

Blueface · 03-18-2009, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vstrommark

Face it, Carlos, you are special

I was never quite able to figure out how that customs' agent was able to keep two hands on my shoulders while doing the standard procedure cavity search.

rizzle · 03-18-2009, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blueface

Wait a minute................

oh crap.........................

You mean that cavity search they did on me is not standard procedure?

Did the agent speak with a slight lisp?

03-16-2009, 10:19 PM	#1
markem Bunion Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Mark Location: Second Star on the Right Posts: 22,621 Trading: (47)	Interesting note about US customs A month or so ago, I got the "pat on the head, you poor ignorant bastage" letter from US customs regarding a MAW that they intercepted from Canada (note: please don't include notes in packages going through customs, it makes denial much harder). Anyway, fast forward to this past 10 days and my trip to New Zealand. Every place that US customs could intercept my bags, they were inspected (for training purposes and because my US comrades want the government to do this, so they acquiesce). Never had a bag searched by customs before. No personal searches, just bag searches. Quite interesting. __________________ I refuse to belong to any organization that would have me as a member. ~ Groucho Marx

03-16-2009, 10:24 PM	#2
karmaz00 Habanos Join Date: Dec 2008 First Name: Jason Location: victoria Posts: 1,855 Trading: (1)	Re: Interesting note about US customs that is interesting __________________ Habanos Collector Since 2003

03-16-2009, 10:32 PM	#3
K Baz Just in front of theStorm Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Regina - it rhymes with fun Posts: 162 Trading: (1)	Re: Interesting note about US customs I have often believed that customs keeps a naughty and nice list. Remember just because your paranoid doesn't mean they are not watching you.

03-16-2009, 10:33 PM	#4
GoodFella out to sea Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: SC2FL Posts: 588 Trading: (7)	Re: Interesting note about US customs __________________

03-17-2009, 05:02 AM	#5
Nabinger16 Drowning Ex Gorilla Join Date: Mar 2009 First Name: Trent Location: Indiana Posts: 292 Trading: (8)	Re: Interesting note about US customs That's kind of crappy. I never really thought about them keeping a black list or anything like that. Makes sense though, sneaky little bastards.

03-17-2009, 05:04 AM	#6
HK3- Cashmere Jungle Lord Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Boffa Location: The town so nice they named it twice Posts: 5,035 Trading: (48)	Re: Interesting note about US customs Sorry to hear that. It can definately make a trip not fun anymore.

03-17-2009, 05:19 AM	#7
dccraft Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Interesting note about US customs Yep, it sure seems you made the naughty list.

03-17-2009, 07:24 AM	#8
Blueface Gramps 4x's Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Horatio Seymore Hiny Location: Boca Raton - North of La Habana Posts: 8,774 Trading: (8)	Re: Interesting note about US customs Fear not. There is hope down the line for you. I know a guy quite well that travels quite often to the land I would love to see again. I unfortunately don't have the same set of cojones he does. He always brings back tons of stuff which he often shares with me and others (rarely smokes, mostly coffee and rum). About a year ago, he had a very nice bottle of that you know what Club rum (not the 7, I think it was the 15) that I specifically requested he bring me and it got confiscated upon arrival here, along with tons of other stuff. I think he had like 10 bottles alone, lots of coffee, the stuff we smoke, and so on. They even pulled him into a "special" room and had him sweating profusely for quite a while. Well, he just got back from another trip and tells me he has a bottle of the 7 year for me and brought back lots of stuff. Was never questioned. Go figure. Is that a set of cojones or what? __________________ Little known fact: I am a former member of the Village People - The Indian

03-17-2009, 08:34 AM	#9
icantbejon Have My Own Room Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Jon Location: Chester, VA Posts: 1,219 Trading: (10)	Re: Interesting note about US customs It hasn't happened to me, but I can relate to this story. Growing up, I lived very close to the canadien boarder. My brother used to cross on a very frequent basis cause he was seeing some chick. He got stopped once for a problem and from that point forward, ever time he went across they stopped him and questioned him thoroughly. He was also inspected quite regularly as well following that one time. __________________ "Learn to pay attention. Life is hard.....it's even more challenging when you're stupid."

03-17-2009, 07:30 PM	#13
MedicCook Mila smoked my cigar Join Date: Jan 2009 First Name: Ryan Location: Schaghticoke, NY Posts: 10,946 Trading: (7)	Re: Interesting note about US customs I got pulled out of line on my way back from Germany a few years back. I had nothing to confiscate so I had no problems.

03-17-2009, 07:31 PM	#14
boonedoggle The Search is ON Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Jimmy Location: CHARLESTON, SC Posts: 631 Trading: (19)	Re: Interesting note about US customs you should cut someone! __________________ Dr. Hibbard: Is that the love of a man for a woman, or the love of a man for a fine Cuban cigar? (chuckles

03-17-2009, 08:13 PM	#15
ucla695 Neither here, nor there Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: The Pool Posts: 3,696 Trading: (5)	Re: Interesting note about US customs Interesting. I hope there's not a bad list, but it seems like there's something to it.