Inbound to Customs, sent to Disto Center, then back in Inbound to Customs?

[OpenSkies]

Greetings all,

Hope someone may be able to give a little hope to my package. Looks like it was in customs for about 3 days the first time, released to LA Distro Center, then tagged as Inbound to customs again with no further updates.

Please see below, and let me know if you've ever seen this before/what it means.

Any help would be appreciated.

Destination Country : United States - Tracking consuming: 372 ms
2017-12-29 13:33
Inbound Into Customs, Your item is being processed by United States Customs.

2017-12-29 13:33
LOS ANGELES CA INTERNATIONAL DISTRIBUTION CENTER, Arrived at USPS Regional Facility

2017-12-26 14:01
Inbound Into Customs

2017-12-26 14:01
ISC LOS ANGELES CA (USPS), Processed Through Facility

2017-12-20 22:20
Origin Post is Preparing Shipment

2017-12-20 22:20
CHINA, SHANGHAI EMS, Processed Through Facility

2017-12-20 16:57
CHINA, Acceptance

Origin Country : China - Tracking consuming: 528 ms
2017-12-26 14:01
美国, 到达处理中心,来自中国 上海

2017-12-21 03:42
上海市, 离开上海市 发往上海浦东航站

2017-12-21 03:42
上海市, 离开上海市 发往洛杉矶

2017-12-20 16:57
上海市, 淞南(本部)已收件（揽投员姓名：王年英,联系电话:13743484162）

[phaz0rz]

The shipment was probably stopped for a secondary inspection. If the shipment ends up being seized for any reason, you'll get a letter from customs in the mail within the next week or two. If it's not seized the tracking will start updating again after about a week of sitting there and the shipment will proceed to delivery.

[MM78]

LAX + foo foo's = confiscated + a nice letter from Customs.

[phaz0rz]

There is something seriously wrong with a country when you can bring in dozens of foofoo shipments daily on one coast, but if you try doing the same thing on the other coast every shipment gets seized.

What's up with that?

[rsot]

Welcome to the forums - all the best as you master stealth

@OpenSkies - what is the category of your imported items (don't need to be specific)....?

[OpenSkies]

Unregulated chemicals for research purposes.
Nothing scheduled and not an analog of any type.

If I had to guess I'm betting it's being tested, and will likely be sent when identified. Sadly, who knows what time frame that looks like.

~OpenSkies

[phaz0rz]

Roughly 2 months. I've had merchandise returned to me by customs before.


I doubt you'll get your RC's though.

[BaggaDonuts]

If they labeled the package correctly it may help, seems like many Chinese shipping companies don't do that these days. If its in longer than a week, its probably getting tested and just a waiting game IF it does get sent through. Is this your first order or no?

[OpenSkies]

First order from this Chinese vendor. Have ordered before from Canada a few times in the past, but they never spent more than a day or two in customs. I'm guessing the vendor didn't label the material correctly and it's being tested.

Still shows no status change on tracking, so I don't believe it has been seized nor has it be sent on. So testing is my assumption. As both materials are perfectly legal and do not even fall under the analog act (which still wouldn't apply to non-human consumption) I assume they will be sent on to me at some future date.

Just have my doubts about the speed of how quickly the testing processing/approval will happen. I also fear if the vendor didn't correctly label the material it may be sent back, even after they have been correctly identified (not sure what the paperwork required to be associated with these imports).

Going to be fairly bitter if I get a Love Letter from Customs for perfectly allowed substances. I'm unsure if they can perform the testing without requesting approval from myself so I'm somewhat expecting a letter asking if I want these tested or fortified. Honestly, I'm not sure what the correct response to such a letter would be. I don't want my address flagged for something that I believe will pass testing, but not sure how many headaches that would also cause.

~OpenSkies

[phaz0rz]

The tracking will never update again in my experience regardless of what happens. It certainly won't show a "seized by customs" update.

If the shipment is cleared by customs after a secondary inspection (which is presumably what's happening here) they will apply their own postage and send the package to you. I assume this is done because it's usually 2 or 3 weeks before they release the shipment and, depending on when the package was originally shipped, the original shipping label could be invalid.

The one package I had "seized" was handled that way. Half of the box's contents were taken and customs mailed me an invoice for what they took. The other half was returned to DHL who delivered the shipment to me with a new tracking number.

With the hundreds of dark net shipments coming into USA each day I wouldn't be surprised if the shipment is seized first and tested later. Then if the test reveals an illegal substance LE would be notified. It's not uncommon for a legal shipment to be seized for being mislabeled or for looking "suspicious".

EDIT: For what it's worth, you could always be proactive and call customs to see what's going on.

[OpenSkies]

Thanks for the reply phaz0rz! Great information to have.
For those who order off the DN and import.. braver than me. If I was going to do any such thing I'd buy domestic...

But even that would cause me too much stress.. I may walk a line, but can guarantee it's no more than a grey area (if that). Too paranoid as is, I already think they profile my mail as it is.

Thanks again for the feedback & Info!
~OpenSkies

[OpenSkies]

Still no update... 9 days at second Customs inspection. Wish they would just test the material and send it on the way. Replacement order one left China today, I'm curious to know if they have my address flagged and this one runs into the same issues.

If the vendor includes chemical names on package with testing sheets, will they accept these at face value and send on? Or do they conduct testing no matter what documentation is provided?

~OpenSkies

ps. I just placed an order for several Chinese cheap hoodies/coat (not knockoffs) that are being shipped separately. I'm curious if these are help for extended periods as well seeing how they'll be running through the same Distro/Customs center.

destination Country : United States - Tracking consuming: 461 ms
2017-12-29 13:33
Inbound Into Customs, Your item is being processed by United States Customs.

2017-12-29 13:33
LOS ANGELES CA INTERNATIONAL DISTRIBUTION CENTER, Arrived at USPS Regional Facility

2017-12-26 14:01
Inbound Into Customs

2017-12-26 14:01
ISC LOS ANGELES CA (USPS), Processed Through Facility

2017-12-20 22:20
Origin Post is Preparing Shipment

2017-12-20 22:20
CHINA, SHANGHAI EMS, Processed Through Facility

2017-12-20 16:57
CHINA, Acceptance

Origin Country : China - Tracking consuming: 74 ms
2017-12-26 14:01
United States, arrival processing center, Shanghai, China

2017-12-21 03:42
Shanghai city, Shanghai Pudong Terminal

2017-12-21 03:42
Shanghai city, leaving Shanghai for Los Angeles

2017-12-20 16:57
Shanghai, Song South (part) received (name: Wang Yanying, Tel: 13743484162)