Customs agents in Cincinnati seize unapproved weight loss drugs

[YoYoFat]

I got caught walking across the border from Mexico with what would have been legal amounts of prescription drugs had i declared them (I didn’t) over 30 years ago. I paid a fine for not declaring and walked away that day thinking it was done. 20 years later I discover I cannot get global entry because of it. I travel internationally a lot, it’s a pain in the ass.

The global entry thing is a real risk and if it is valuable to you, you ought to take it seriously. If it isn’t valuable to you then meh, keep on trucking, unless something changes nobody is going to jail for importing personal quantities of bootleg ozempic.

You paid a fine, you were CONVICTED. That’s what a fine is, it’s a finding and a penalty. A conviction.

That was possible because you were the courier at the border. You were pretty easy to investigate.

Unless you’re a U.S. finisher or the GB coordinator receiving hundreds of kits at a time, for which CBP might pursue an investigation to contact the addressee, merely having a package with your name on it seized at the border does not meet the elements of the crime and will not result in a fine and thus not result in a conviction. They’re not gonna come knock on a random person’s door who purchased a few kits to initiate an investigation and fine you, convict you.

The fear mongering is really ridiculous.

 

[YoYoFat]

I take my Yacht to the Bahama's and travel to Colombia several times a year, they revoked my Global Entry and put me on a government watch list, I Have not done anything wrong, just because of where I travel too.

Because you are the traveler, the potential smuggler.

 

[exploitedworkerbee]

You paid a fine, you were CONVICTED. That’s what a fine is, it’s a finding and a penalty. A conviction.

That was possible because you were the courier at the border. You were pretty easy to investigate.

Unless you’re a U.S. finisher or the GB coordinator receiving hundreds of kits at a time, for which CBP might pursue an investigation to contact the addressee, merely having a package with your name on it seized at the border does not meet the elements of the crime and will not result in a fine and thus not result in a conviction. They’re not gonna come knock on a random person’s door who purchased a few kits to initiate an investigation and fine you, convict you.

The fear mongering is really ridiculous.

It was an infraction, which is not a crime. No conviction, no criminal record. I think you don't have as good a handle on this as you think you do. They build a risk profile which can include things such as importation of bootleg merchandise even without formal investigations or charges. This isn't court with rules of evidence and reasonable doubt. It is much looser than that. ANYTHING that puts you in a category other than low risk will likely land you a rejection letter, it doesn't have to be a proven offense as you suggest.

 

[hexagonal]

You paid a fine, you were CONVICTED. That’s what a fine is, it’s a finding and a penalty. A conviction.

That was possible because you were the courier at the border. You were pretty easy to investigate.

Unless you’re a U.S. finisher or the GB coordinator receiving hundreds of kits at a time, for which CBP might pursue an investigation to contact the addressee, merely having a package with your name on it seized at the border does not meet the elements of the crime and will not result in a fine and thus not result in a conviction. They’re not gonna come knock on a random person’s door who purchased a few kits to initiate an investigation and fine you, convict you.

The fear mongering is really ridiculous.

Like I said, just google GE revoked customs seizure. Lots of people paying no fines, not hearing anything at all, GE status getting revoked. People have gotten GE revoked over watch straps, lol.

You not wanting it to be true does not change reality. Trust me, I make use of my GE frequently and am nervous about the possibility, but I'm not going to stick my head in the sand just because I prefer that reality to the one we live in.

 

[zpped]

The fact you are equating a fine and conviction shows you don't actually know what you're talking about on this subject.

 

[exploitedworkerbee]

The fact you are equating a fine and conviction shows you don't actually know what you're talking about on this subject.

It wouldn’t be so bad if they weren’t so insulting about it. Like everyone else is an idiotic fear monger because they don’t have a grasp on any of this stuff.

 

[GimmeABreak]

It wouldn’t be so bad if they weren’t so insulting about it. Like everyone else is an idiotic fear monger because they don’t have a grasp on any of this stuff.

Global Entry is NOT a right, it is a privilege and they can revoke this privilege without due process. I am not aware of way that you can even appeal it. I also wonder if it would cancel PRE status, that would really impact my travel.

 

[exploitedworkerbee]

Global Entry is NOT a right, it is a privilege and they can revoke this privilege without due process. I am not aware of way that you can even appeal it. I also wonder if it would cancel PRE status, that would really impact my travel.

I’m not eligible for global entry because of the situation I explained above but I do have tsa precheck. They don’t think I’ll blow stuff up but they do want to check my papers when I enter I guess. My best guess is a peptide related thing would only impact GA, not precheck

 

[GimmeABreak]

I’m not eligible for global entry because of the situation I explained above but I do have tsa precheck. They don’t think I’ll blow stuff up but they do want to check my papers when I enter I guess. My best guess is a peptide related thing would only impact GA, not precheck

Glad to hear this. Many airports have streamlined the process for the plebs (those without GE) to the point it is actually pretty quick to clear. Though I would hate to lose and would suffer greatly if my activities also jeopardized my wife's GE, it isn't nearly as bad as losing PRE.

 

[hexagonal]

Global Entry is NOT a right, it is a privilege and they can revoke this privilege without due process. I am not aware of way that you can even appeal it. I also wonder if it would cancel PRE status, that would really impact my travel.

You can appeal, and even have a lawyer do it on your behalf. Supposedly the success rate with lawyers is reasonably good, if anyone wants to chance the 5k or so it would cost.

 

[brentm]

I’m not eligible for global entry because of the situation I explained above but I do have tsa precheck. They don’t think I’ll blow stuff up but they do want to check my papers when I enter I guess. My best guess is a peptide related thing would only impact GA, not precheck

Smuggling drugs is smuggling drugs. I doubt they have details on your case beyond that.

If it was 30 years ago, my guess is steroids from the "Farmacia".

Are customs checkpoints any more painful than average?

 

[exploitedworkerbee]

Are customs checkpoints any more painful than average?

Nah, since it wasn’t a criminal offense nobody seems to know or care about it. It is ancient history, except for the global entry people. They must dig deep. I have also grown into a boring guy with a very clean record since those spicy youthful days so am not really one who invites much scrutiny anyway.

 

[GimmeABreak]

You can appeal, and even have a lawyer do it on your behalf. Supposedly the success rate with lawyers is reasonably good, if anyone wants to chance the 5k or so it would cost.

You are right, there is a whole appeal process on the GE site:

Global Entry Appeals Process

Discover the Global Entry appeal process with National Security Law Firm. Expert assistance to challenge denials and revocations effectively.

www.nationalsecuritylawfirm.com

I hope I never need to do this.....

 

[adria37]

If I get a love letter from customs for a glp1 drug I will be pissed. I survived the 90's-2000 internet pharmaceutical phentermine blitz without a single love letter. Still have an excellent source but it no longer works for me just ruins my sleep more than usual.

 

[beefsteak]

Get a usps po box. Can be had for as low as $60 a year. UPS also offers it for double the cost if you don't want to mess with usps.

 

[GimmeABreak]

Get a usps po box. Can be had for as low as $60 a year. UPS also offers it for double the cost if you don't want to mess with usps.

I'm not sure a UPS or USPS post office box would work. The few times I have ordered from China (and many US suppliers) I wasn't given the option to select the carrier. I don't think UPS/FedEx will deliver to a USPS box.

 

[glpfun]

I'm not sure a UPS or USPS post office box would work. The few times I have ordered from China (and many US suppliers) I wasn't given the option to select the carrier. I don't think UPS/FedEx will deliver to a USPS box.

They have mail stores that are like the ups store or the now gone mail boxes etc which allow deliveries from any carrier. Those places will narc on you though.

 

[beefsteak]

I'm not sure a UPS or USPS post office box would work. The few times I have ordered from China (and many US suppliers) I wasn't given the option to select the carrier. I don't think UPS/FedEx will deliver to a USPS box.

USPS offers "real address" and supports all big mail carriers.

Typically your po box is like this
John Smith
Po box 123
Town state zip

Real address works by
John Smith
9999 some street [real address post office]
#123
Town state zip

And it's free. https://postalpro.usps.com/mailing/competitivepoboxes

 

[Super Trips]

Get a usps po box. Can be had for as low as $60 a year. UPS also offers it for double the cost if you don't want to mess with usps.

only get a 24hr access box that way you can send someone anytime to check it. teaching people on stealth and how to mail packs properly is a art.

 

[RedSkip]

Like I said, just google GE revoked customs seizure. Lots of people paying no fines, not hearing anything at all, GE status getting revoked. People have gotten GE revoked over watch straps, lol.

You not wanting it to be true does not change reality. Trust me, I make use of my GE frequently and am nervous about the possibility, but I'm not going to stick my head in the sand just because I prefer that reality to the one we live in.

Sorry for my ignorance, but what's the benefit of GE? Why are international travelers worried about losing it?