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Customs seized parcel
 

Hi,

So U.S. Customs seized one of my packages recently and sent me a formal notice via certified mail. In this notice, they present me with a couple of options

1. Petition
2. Offer in Compromise
3. Abandon
4. Court Action
5. Release on Payment
6. Take No Action

I have no interest in these items anymore; would option 3 (abandon) be my best route?

Also, they mention the following:

"In addition to the seizure and forfeiture liability, you may be liable for a civil penalty in this matter. Details on the civil penalty are in the attached letter; or being prepared and will be mailed shortly. How likely is a penalty?

The domestic appraised value is about $4k, wholesale price paid is about $1.5k

Anyone with experience have any input?

Your option is also to burn that letter and stop importing such items. Do not respond or admit guilt to anything.

The US Customs doesn't send out USPS Certified Mail unless it means business. I'd seek the advice of counsel.

Seek the advise of a lawyer. Best option IMHO

Certified mail means that they are confident in prosecuting you.
I agree with the others, seek professional, legal advice.

What makes you say that? / How do you know this?

Its all part of building a case. They have proof that you have received the letter, because it was send recorded. That,s not to say they will definitely pursue it, but you really do need to seek legal COUNSEL

If they had just sent a regular letter (not cert or any tracking, etc) then it would have just been a scare tactic.

Certified mail means that they are trying to get evidence on/to get to you (or whoever resides at the address) And if you signed for it? its recorded by USPS.

If you shipped items to a stealth address and they still sent you a cert. letter (your real address) then they are investigating pretty hard.

If you shipped the items to your real address, then that's less of a trail that they have to connect the dots too.

Because we are not idiots who go on importing phakes.

Because we do our homework to ensure items we bring into the country are in order to import.

We do not think oh everyone else does this I am going to be OK. Or but I can make a lot of money importing phakes.
Not true.
Now you know the HARD way

Take legal advice.

:mad: