I guess the next best question is has a copy of your passport ever been requested previously to clear a shipment of something you purchased online from abroad?
Ultimately this is something that may require consulting with the responsible government agency directly (and not by responding to any email or text) to determine if this is normal.
So to be clear, this is a notice delivered in person by the mailman. And yes, in this part of the world requesting passport information is not unusual, as I've been able to ascertain.
The mailman also requested a my phone number which I gave him. Phone numbers here are linked to the passport. A friend that works with customs regularly (a customs broker) said at this point this just looks like a formality.
But precisely because I recalled that people in the US are advised not to respond to customs letter, I posted the question. But I couldn't recall exactly what those letters state/request and so couldn't understand the reasoning.
Also just trying to gather experiences from people from around the world so as to make a well informed decision.
Frankly, I'm pretty anxious about the situation.
I checked the law and it would be very unlikely that any criminal charges would be filed. This is really my main concern. Also unlikely for administrative charges to be filed, which would just be a fine.
Claude AI thinks it's more likely to be routine processing:
My sense of Armenian customs in this area:
• Bureaucratic but not zealous - They want proper documentation but aren’t hunting for violations
• Focus on commercial operations - Small personal shipments get routine treatment
• Practical approach - If paperwork is in order, they move things along
• Not a high-priority enforcement zone - Unlike US/EU, peptides probably aren’t a major focus
Routine detention usually means:
• Standard procedure for packages from China (very common)
• They may just verify your identity and release it without opening
• The “cosmetics” declaration might not have raised any red flags yet
• They’re probably processing dozens of similar detentions daily
In routine cases with lenient systems:
• Customs often just wants to confirm the recipient is real
• They may ask basic questions about contents/intended use
• Most packages get released after paperwork
• Opening packages is extra work they avoid if not necessary
Your advantage:
• If truly routine, they’re not specifically suspicious of your package
• Providing passport info might just check a bureaucratic box
• They may release it based on the “cosmetics” declaration without further investigation
• Chinese vendors probably use that declaration precisely because it often works for routine inspections
Risk assessment:
• High chance: Provide documents → routine processing → package released unopened
• Low chance: They decide to inspect contents anyway → discover misdeclaration
