Busted by US Dept. of Customs & Border Protection -- TWICE!

[Cigar Fan 29]

I used to get my cubans from a great guy in New Zealand, but he fell off the face of the Earth about three years ago. I tried two other places and received fakes.
I found a place in Switzerland -- of course there are many. I made two orders, two weeks apart. US Customs nabbed both of them, and I received MASSIVE, 20-page legal documents from the US Department of Customs and Border Protection with pretty extreme threats of prosecution. Got those TWICE.
That was two years ago. I flew to South Africa to be the keynote speaker at a dental conference, and I had no problem whatsoever going through customs.
Does anyone have any expertise with this? I don't know if I want to chance it anymore.
Thanks.
Rod

 

[manbearpig]

I used to get my cubans from a great guy in New Zealand, but he fell off the face of the Earth about three years ago. I tried two other places and received fakes.
I found a place in Switzerland -- of course there are many. I made two orders, two weeks apart. US Customs nabbed both of them, and I received MASSIVE, 20-page legal documents from the US Department of Customs and Border Protection with pretty extreme threats of prosecution. Got those TWICE.
That was two years ago. I flew to South Africa to be the keynote speaker at a dental conference, and I had no problem whatsoever going through customs.
Does anyone have any expertise with this? I don't know if I want to chance it anymore.
Thanks.
Rod

From everything I have read and understand is that these are small potatoes. You should be fine. But in abundance of caution I will pm you my addy and I will help destroy the evidence for you.

 

[StogieNinja]

Customs letter = no problem

OFAC letter = problem

So far as I know, no one has seen the latter in a very long time. The former is plentiful and can be safely ignored.

 

[icehog3]

4 letters from Customs over the years. Got approved for Global Entry this year with no questions or issues. No problem coming through Customs at the airports either. You are fine.

 

[ChuckMejia]

For what's it's worth my packages never have my full legal name on them. But I have gotten a letter or two and I just shred the whole thing.

 

[Cigar Fan 29]

Thanks everyone. Very reassuring!! (famous last words ). Now if I can just convince my wife!!!
Rod

 

[navyvet]

the only time they are going to give you ALOT of trouble is if you pack a suit case with 300 boxes. making it evident that you are going to sell them for profit. if you have a couple boxes they just take them and say have a nice day

 

[Cigar Fan 29]

No, I'm actually talking about having them shipped from Switzerland. No suitcases necessary! LOL!

 

[andysc83]

I'm on my 4th letter right now since 2011 and I wouldn't be surprised if I get another one soon since customs snagged a box of Por Larranaga Robustos last month. The letters are usually just shredded with all the other junk mail and I continue to order my normal 2-4 boxes a month.

 

[Cigar Fan 29]

For what's it's worth my packages never have my full legal name on them. But I have gotten a letter or two and I just shred the whole thing.

I've thought about doing that. Anybody know of any reason using a fake name would not be a good idea?

Rod

 

[Cigar Fan 29]

Another thing... When had to find a new source, I selected a place in Switzerland. Those were the two shipments that got nabbed and I received letters. So I tried another company, and it just so happened to also be in Switzerland. I did receive those, but the declaration on the package said "Cigars". I was amazed it made it through customs.
So I emailed the owner of that company and asked why in the world he would ship CCs to the USA with "Cigars" written on the declaration. He replied saying that Swiss customs opens EVERY PACKAGE to confirm that what's inside matches the declaration. Well, that sounds fishy to me. He said that if they write something else, they get in trouble with the Swiss government.
So...does that sound legit? And if so, why would any one order CCs from Switzerland?
Rod

 

[icehog3]

I believe that the penalties for the vendor, if a mismarked package is discovered to be in fact mismarked, are stiff. The majority of packages I reiieve are marked "cigars", and get through. This is why I think they are marked "cigars". I do know a couple vendors tend to write quite illegibily, lol.

As far as using a completely fake name, not sure how you could use a credit card to do that?

 

[Cigar Fan 29]

I believe that the penalties for the vendor, if a mismarked package is discovered to be in fact mismarked, are stiff. The majority of packages I reiieve are marked "cigars", and get through. This is why I think they are marked "cigars". I do know a couple vendors tend to write quite illegibily, lol.

As far as using a completely fake name, not sure how you could use a credit card to do that?

Are you specifically referring to Switzerland? If so, that sorta confirms what I was told regarding Switzerland. So I'm wondering if other countries do the same. Seems very strange for a customs service inspecting OUTGOING packages. Incomeing packages, OK, but typically no interest in doing that on packages going out of a country.
Thanks!
Rod

 

[icehog3]

I believe i've read that a vendor stated that Switzerland specifically has prescribed penalties for mismarking outgoing packages, and that there are other countires that have similar penalties. I tried to find where I read that by searching and could not find it. Rod, so this is coming only from my memory of the discussion. Maybe someone else who remembers it or even has a link that doesn't violate forum rules can chime in here.

 

[Cigar Fan 29]

I believe i've read that a vendor stated that Switzerland specifically has prescribed penalties for mismarking outgoing packages, and that there are other countires that have similar penalties. I tried to find where I read that by searching and could not find it. Rod, so this is coming only from my memory of the discussion. Maybe someone else who remembers it or even has a link that doesn't violate forum rules can chime in here.

THANKS icehog! Much appreciated.
Rod

 

[Master Shake]

It doesn't matter if you use a fake name or not. Any letters are still getting sent to your home address and they have ways of figuring this shit out. The request for information letter, which thankfully hasn't been seen for years, basically notifies you the jig is up and you are going to be required to come clean. A non response will involve stiffer penalties and playing dumb simply isn't an option. At that point your only choice is to lawyer up as that is a letter that can't be ignored. However, with the current administration, no one gives a shit and if your package is intercepted you get a very standard letter telling you customs has your goods and if you want to make a claim you can. Obviously, only an idiot would make a claim.

 

[Cigar Fan 29]

The two letters I received were only in the first half of 2014, and they were the very threatening letters that say you must respond by answering the questions and checking boxes. But strangely, there was another passage near the beginning of the letters saying that you weren't required to respond. So both of these letters contradicted themselves. But 2014 was still the current administration, and not all that long ago. So are you saying that just since 2014, these letters are no longer being sent out? I haven't heard that.
I read a place on the internet where an attorney was recommending to ignore the letters and to absolutely not respond. He said that by responding, you're admitting guilt, and without that, the government would have a more difficult time of prosecuting.
Have you received one of the new "standard" letters yourself? If that is what's happening now, that would be awesome!
Has anyone else heard about or received one of these new letters?
Thanks
Rod