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Package Inspected by Customs: Random or Targeted?
 

So around 2 years ago I got a package seized by customs. Received the letter, never responded, nothing ever came of it. I always used DHL Express. I learned my lesson, and have only imported generic items from then on using DHL. I have begun to order more things overseas for my business, so using DHL Express saves time. I order around 100 plastic generic enclosures every other month. This time I received my package, it had the green customs inspected tape on it. Nothing taken out and no letter. My question is: Is this linked to the incident 2 years ago since I began to use DHL Express more often with the same address? Or was it just a random search? Any feedback would be awesome. Thanks.

Re: Package Inspected by Customs: Random or Targeted?
 

It's impossible to know

If it had happened say 3 times out of your last 5 shipsments yoy can assume its targeted

Being just once though it could really be either

Re: Package Inspected by Customs: Random or Targeted?
 

Its random. DHL stuff gets checked a lot more frequently in my experience maybe 1 out of 5 I've received has NOT been checked.

As long as you aren't shipping anything 'bad' its fine. They might start asking for some duties if they figure the value to be $$$$ on your shipment.

Re: Package Inspected by Customs: Random or Targeted?
 

Thanks everyone for your help! I received another package from the same seller, and it was not inspected.

Re: Package Inspected by Customs: Random or Targeted?
 

UPDATE 9/4/17. Hey everyone so I received another DHL Package from a different seller, no inspection. I ordered another 200 plastic enclosures from the same company I have been ordering from, I receive with an inspections green tape on it again. I am not sure if there is something wrong with the company I order from, as it seems only there packages I order get inspected.

If this is targeted, is there any negative outcome or consequences that can come from it? They don't seize anything and there is never any DHL delays or "please contact DHL", as the product is just generic plastic enclosures. Any advice would be appreciated thanks.

Re: Package Inspected by Customs: Random or Targeted?
 

So many variables - so its going to be near impossible to reach a conclusion.

Customs have algorithms in place. Sometimes checks may be random. Other times its based on who's sending, where their sending from, who's receiving it, how many violations has each party had in the past, what is the likelihood of a re-occurrence of such violation etc.

Either way, if your not doing anything your not supposed to, you have nothing to worry about.

Re: Package Inspected by Customs: Random or Targeted?
 

US Customs is inspecting EVERY package from China. Don't sweat it.

Re: Package Inspected by Customs: Random or Targeted?
 

Dude you're full of sh!t on that one. Tens of thousands of inbound shipments comes into USA from China every day. They do not have the manpower to open them all. We get 10-15 shipments per week from China. Very rare for any of our shipments to have been opened. Most times if they are opened it was by HK DHL and not US customs (evident by the tape they reseal the package with).

If this is your experience then either your shipper SUCKS, you're importing drugs or something else illegal, or you're on the West side where customs is a lot more strict.

Re: Package Inspected by Customs: Random or Targeted?
 

hey you are correcto mundo youngster, I should have qualified my statement in that ALL the packages coming from a SPECIFIC class of shippers are being opened. My error ****tard.:bored:

Re: DHL RED SECURITY - your packaged was inspected for suspicious contents
 

Good evening, shipped a gift/souvenirs package from Medellin to Virginia.
My contents included a 500grams of coffee beans, some souvenirs. The package gets here after almost a month. I think this timeline is acceptable given the end of year.

My package went from Colombia to Costa Rico to Panama to Florida to Tennessee to Cincinnati to Virginia. Why would they send it to that many different locations before its destination ? Also, the package arrived but had a RED DHL LABEL saying: searched for suspicious contents. The package had all contents except for the coffee beans.

What should I be worried about ? Should I expect some police even marijuana seeds.

Re: Package Inspected by Customs: Random or Targeted?
 

Nothing will come of it, but you probably won't get your coffee.

Re: DHL RED SECURITY - your packaged was inspected for suspicious contents
 

Maybe next time, just buy your coffee out of Walmart.

Re: Package Inspected by Customs: Random or Targeted?
 

anything from Columbia would be investigated.