Eek....Customs....Help!!
 

Alright, so I get my first letter from customs yessterday after about 20 succesfull overseas orders.

NOTICE OF DETENTION

Part A.... yaddy yaddy yadda....

DECLARED. AIRSOFT FRAME

Location of Goods: IMPC

Goods described are being detained for the following reasons:

TO DETERMINE ADMISSIBILITY

You are required to contact the following address concerning the requirments that have to be met:

C.V.S. prohibited Importaions Unit
CBSA Mail Package Gateway
4567 Dixie Road Mississauga ON
L4W 1T0
(905) 625 7942 or 7615

Officer Number: 14815

Part B.... I acknowlesge the receipt of this notice

BLANK

Part C.... Disposition of Goods

BLANK

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

So, what should I do? Write them a letter explaining what it is? or

Is this the point where I'm fucked? or

....any imput would be great!

Oh, it's soley an aluminum frame for a Desert Eagle....

The "you're fracked" letter would tell you in no uncertain terms that they've determined the item unacceptable and will destroy it after the appeal period expires, or something along those lines. Since your letter says it's being held for the purpose of determining the item's admissibility, you really should call in and explain politely and accurately why it's not for a real gun.

Its a frame/Lower so you wont get it, Your other orders probably have not contained restricted items

I would order from the classifieds. Those bastards at customs are really getting worse every day.

or airsoftparts.ca

I agree with Saint, and if you can somehow do some intense research on the differences and in detail point out something like no serial # or something that it's not for a real gun and it's for a toy than you can get away. But on a lower frame heh good luck.

It's a hunk of aluminum....like really....

It's got no serial # and they know it's for airsoft. I'm thinking of stating something along the lines of a) totally useless for a real gun b) does not have the same physical specs and is painted white (it is) as anything real and that might just be enough to dodge the 'replica' claim and c) no serial number therefore, not a controlled piece.... somewhat reasonable?

Since now I know there seems to be an actual "you're fucked" letter, maybe they really are being merciful on me?

It's a frame, and by legal definitions it's the essential part of a gun.
You've been here for a while and decided to order one anyway. You took a chance.

Now you must take another chance and appeal. It might work but if you lose you will now be on the shit list at Customs. That does have other consequences.

So, if I lose....then I'm on the shit list?? How does that work when I am recieving stuff unopened while this is going on?

I'm going to call them up on Monday and I'm curious if I get to talk to someone live or not. Anyone know?

Oh and these other consequences?

It's as much a "hunk of aluminum" as fully automatic M4 receiver is a "hunk of steel."

It's prohibited.

You're trying to import a replica of a controlled item (the controlled item being the frame.) If it wasn't clear before, here's a re-iteration: replicas are prohibited items. This is why airsoft is so expensive in Canada.

I'm not new to what and what isn't a problem. You guys don't have to beat that in.

What I am new to is customs as this in the first time out of many that this has happened. So I'm asking for any help with them.

So phone or letter, which is best?

Neither, because you're pretty much fucked.

If you want to appeal, they will have given you the appeal date and where to send the appeal to on your seizure notice. If you write a very well thought-out letter explaining that this is for an airsoft gun and that it can't possibly be used to manufacture a real gun, then you "might" have a chance. If there is some integral parts machined into this frame which are not on the real one, or if there are weak points also not on the real one, even better.

Now, appeals can take many months, even extending into years. They cost you nothing, except postage perhaps, but they can and will delay and stall as long as they feel necessary. You may just give up before you see the end. But by all means do appeal and at least try to get your items back.

Short list of what CAN happen;

Everything you order will be scanned or looked at physically.

Your name/id CAN be flagged at Customs (it likely will), which may make your future travel plans a lot of no fun. Could even reach being banned from crossing the border OR being searched all the time.
You CAN be accused of attempted smuggling, and that is a criminal offense.
If you are convicted, you then have a Criminal record.
If you have a criminal record, it has a huge impact on your future job prospects.

So that is what CAN happen. All that for trying to import something instead of ordering it from Canadian retailers.

To the naysayers, please note that I said it CAN happen. Not that it WILL. But I sure as hell would not try it.

Rumple, look for the thread about the CBSA not always being asses or something to that effect. was recent as in the last week or two.
To the new guys posting "you're fucked" very helpful go back to trolling and boosting your post count elsewhere.
And Rumple Greylocks is right there are all sorts of potential ramifactions for this, write something really really good when you write your letter going, no serial numbers, made from alumiminum, stress points would never allow for...etc etc.

So, what to do?
 

CBSA, thinks that the item you are trying to import is prohibited.

Either is it a frame of a prohibited pistol, and you can't have it

Or it is a frame of a replica pistol, that you intend to assemble into a replica of a prohibited Pistol.. and you can't have it

Or its a toy gun part, so you can repair a toy gun that you already posses..
in which case... maybe you can have it..

so you will need to write your appeal very carefully.

I expect they are looking for a written appeal... as then it is much more useful as evidence when the RCMP charge you for smuggling...If this goes horribly wrong....

Quapla!

Hell, post a draft here and we'll all help out as much as we can.

I think you guys need to read the words

"Goods described are being detained for the following reasons:

TO DETERMINE ADMISSIBILITY"

I'd call them, get the info on whats happening with the item then start to worry if its bad news, but the inportant thing here is that it has not been confiscated.

Not a good idea.. anything done by committee is certain to be a failure..

Besides... should this letter serve to incriminate him... who would want to have a hand in that?

Also.... by choosing to assist... you condone the event that created this problem...

We have trusted and effective importers and retailers for a reason... to avoid such issues... Buy already landed and in stock parts.. Pay a bit more.. but never have such issues...

If you want to chance it.. order direct.. against all advice... and this is what could happen. Why is it now a "community problem?"

Rumple Felt... you are now a poster boy for why one should buy from retailers. You gambled and lost... I feel no need to bail you out... by helping you write your appeal.

Thats all anyone needs... you accusing them of "screwing up your appeal"

You're on your own...

Well, what I meant was helping with explaining the situation. I totally get where you're coming from, and I don't condone the whole "smuggling" thing at all. So yeah, I suppose you're right.

Brian already covered the 3 options of what the CSBA it waiting to slot your case into.

They believe its a prohibited device (frame/receiver for a replica gun), so it's been flagged and set aside for you to appeal and get the case opened for further examination. You get to attemp an explanation to your very own assigned case worker.

I've been down this road before, so I'd recommend calling, being polite and hoping your frame isn't a good replica of a real gun. If it's devoid of trades and tell tale signs from real steel, you might be able to worm your way to your item being released. Small chance, but good luck.

Whatever the outcome, be sure of one thing; DONT be a little bitch on the phone or in writing. Be polite above and beyond the call of duty. Be clear and consise, do not argue.

Why? Because you being upset or sounding upset will probably get you flagged in the system. Remember it's another human being you will contact and they may have a bad day, or be stressed out more than you... and there's no rules apart from their judgement to start a process you'd not want to be a part of.

If it fails, take the blame and admit to making an uninformed mistake. They should understand that mistakes do happen and not do anything else than follow basic procedures.

I've been down that road a couple a years ago just when they started really busting out the airsoft import buissiness. First of calling is pretty useless, they gonna tell you either show up where it was confiscated to discuss of the case with the officer in charge or send a letter. As stated before, if you call,be very polite, get yourself prepared to deal with people who doesnt care at at all of the outcome. They gonna give you the coordonates of the appeal servies and there the game of waiting starts. I brought my case into appeal in 2004 and to be finaly told this summer that the items were proceed to destruction. Altought I was not charges with anything, I lost all of my goods for a worth of 800$ even more. After that event, I had no problem with importing other good NOT airsoft related or crossing the border. I whish you the best of luck but prepare yourself t be dissapointed. IMO, you should let it go, lower and upper frame for airsoft are illegal, you'll never get it back. Try to see if you can send it back to the supplier but in my case they said a big NO. Again you best chances to get something in return is to try to have the item shipped back to the supplier.

Taken from Gryphon's post in the FAQ.

I suggest you call them up instead of writing a letter (or doing both if you're vigilant). Calling them gives you the opportunity to kiss ass and show that your intentions are good and genuine.
-VM

His intentions to what? Import a prohibited device under their noses?
They can be good and genuine... but still illegal..

His only hope is to convince them that (jedi mind trick ) "These are not the prohibited devices you are looking for" and convince them they are toy parts.

and let them go..

Thanks for some positive words Zeon :)

I'm not going to go into why I decided to do this, the point is it's done.

All I asked were for some informative words from those who have actually been down this road. I didn't ask for any strict help on writing this or that, just what areas I should be looking at.

I especially didn't ask to be reffered to as a criminal who has commited some outstanding crime. A little blown out of perportion to suggest that the CBSA is going to bring the hammer down on an 18 year old highschool student who tried to buy a frame for a toy gun that he already owns maybe? Yeah yeah could could....but really, as someone said, these are human beings here so lets be sensible. I'm pretty sure loss is the worst I'm looking at....

The only reason I took the even bigger gamble of trying to get some useful information from fellow airsofters on ASC was because of the nature of this letter. You'd figure if they already have firearm or airsoft flagged (which obviously they do) that they would just send a seized and destroyed letter. So, my ultimate question now....

Do they send those type of letters or is mine as bad as it gets?

Oh and I did call....and was reffered to voice mail right away so that was kind of useless.

Thanks so far to those who provided some useful information so far....

As you are over 18, and legally an adult, they can throw the book at you with all the consequences attached.

What you have done is illegal, what they do about it will depend. But it's a fact they CAN make your life hell. What you think about it does not matter to them.

All I can say is good luck and never try that again.