Hmm…government staffing cuts?
No, not always been, just in the last 35 years.
I once had customs try to charge me 10% of the value over the limit. I had a copy of the rules, which was some low amount (for wine less than 14%) per liter (75 cents maybe? 35 cents?) and was charged for 36 bottles x3/4 liter/bottle x75 cents and paid it.
That was in 88? Waved through the next couple of dozen times.
Eh my bf came back from Europe with a case of burg and champagne plus a new watch and none of the CBP agent at LAX held him back. YMMV
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Flew back through Newark from Portugal this past Monday. Had a case of Portuguese wine. They didn’t even ask me how much I had, just waved me through.
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I think it’s just current practice/policy. Most airports don’t have meaningful customs inspections other than for true contraband - animals, drugs, fruits, cheeses - things the dogs can sniff.
A lot of places don’t even have the dogs anymore. I have returned from international destinations through JFK twice in the last 18 months, and not a pooch in sight either time.
Interesting - though I think they still have them in the area before bags come out to carousel even though not visible to you.
And weed!
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Certainly could be, but I always liked seeing them. Woof!
Not when they alert on your luggage though!
I have never had reason for them to do so.
Neither have I, but for whatever reason a dog liked the smell of my wife’s bag after a recent trip, so we got a pull-aside. Couldn’t imagine what it was - forgotten sandwich? Turns out nothing - maybe it had the residue of some food on it.
I have been pulled aside by the sweet little Dulles Beagle for a forgotten sausage in my backpack.
Going to Bordeaux in a couple weeks – I’m guessing with tariffs it’s probably better to bring my carrier and lug a case through customs myself instead of shipping it now? Or will customs charge me the same rate? It seems like the airport rate is much lower, but there’s so much “old” information on the internet, it’s hard to figure it all out.
The rates are the same either way. The airport is just less likely to get “caught.” If you ship you will definitely pay.
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Once coming back from Europe, had a couple cuban cigars in my carryon. A dog starts sniffing it and then I remember I also had a hungarian sausage in the bag. I could only think “I hope they fed that dog this morning.” Apparently not a big enough hit since the handler just pulled him away.
Just flew from Barcelona to Chicago/ORD. Had two Vin Garde Valise suitcases. Only had 5 bottles in them (they are great for travel in general). I did not declare because it was under $800……waved right through with the rest of the crowd. I did have a Global Entry certificate that I handed to them but they were waving everyone through.
BTW, the new Global Entry App worked great and we didn’t even have to get in the line for the Global Entry kiosk. Just held up the phone and was given the laminated certificate to hand in.
I came back from Italy a couple days ago through EWR with a few bottles of wine in my luggage. I have Global Entry, did the kiosk and didn’t have to talk to any CBP agents.
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Has anyone come back recently and actually declared items? (wine or otherwise).
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FWIW, I always declare. I also only bring back legal items. Hell, last time I came back from Italy the customs agent said “Did you declare something?” I said “Yes”. He said, “What have you got?”
“Well, seeds in the original packaging, cheese older than 60-days of age, dried mushrooms, wine, olive oil, and some chocolates”. He just stared at me and said “Ok, welcome home.”
To the original post: I’m of the opinion that if it’s greater than can fit in a reasonable suitcase, you should pay duty.
My father-in-law doesn’t agree and I believe has successfully had a pallet of “samples” delivered even though he’s not ITB?
A trick I thought up is that one could just actually buy 1,000 bottles from someone for cheap. Example: I would buy 1,000 bottles in a legal private sale in the UK from my father-in-law for $5/bottle. I then have a real receipt. I would then be one responsible for importing etc but I could show a receipt of “bulk wine purchased at $5/bottle” and pay the taxes. He could then legally buy it all back from me in the US for $5/bottle + the shipping charges. I mean, if the money actually changes hands and the responsible parties change, too, doesn’t it work?