What Does This Notice Mean?

Customs laws and regulations provide U.S. Customs officers at the 328 ports of entry the ability to stop and search persons or merchandise and make admissibility decisions. If the U.S. Customs officer believes merchandise should be “detained the U.S. Customs officer is required to send to the importer or passenger a Notice of Detention form no later than 5 business days from the date of the examination, stating: (1) the date the merchandise was detained, (2) the reason for the detention, (3) the anticipated length of the detention, (4) the nature of the tests or inquiries to be conducted; and (5) the nature of any information which, if supplied to U.S. Customs, may accelerate the disposition of the detention. It is critical to have expert counsel assist you during the detention phase to avoid a seizure case.