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Post by zachazlett on Feb 15, 2011 18:53:04 GMT -8
Hello everyone I'm new to collecting and I have a question. I'm working in Afghanistan and I bought this collection at the bazaar on base. I planned on mailing it home but now I'm being that they are Non-Mailable. So my next choice is to bring them with me when I come home for R&R in March. I'll fly through Dubai then to Atlanta. So the question is do I need to do anything special to get these through customs? I've made a wood box to carry it in so I can check them on the plane. Any help would be great Thanks Zac Attachments:
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Post by modestomoths on Feb 15, 2011 20:36:11 GMT -8
Hmm. I remember reading something in the wildlife import regulations regarding transporting personal possessions when you enter or exit the US. Not sure if this collection would fall in that category. Either way, it'll probably have to be inspected when you enter the US. Best thing to do would be to contact USFW and ask them if you need to file any forms to bring it back in.
I'm not sure if military personnel have other options for bringing things in.
Best,
Travis
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Post by rehoward on Feb 16, 2011 9:02:04 GMT -8
Travis:
There dosen't seem tobe anything that is endangered.
in that they have plexi glass on the top they seem very secure.
One solution is to get wo seats and put them in the extra beside you.
you will need to declare them as caryon as you board your flight.
In times past no one would have cared if you carried them on.
Now days you might get some flack...
Just be sure that everyone understands that hey are dead and preserved.
The best thing to do is after this put all your specimens in glassene envelopes and label them with data. Then mail them home.
Good luck...Nice looking collection.
REHowad
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Post by jhowens on Feb 17, 2011 13:12:59 GMT -8
Don't know just how true it is, but I knew someone who was in the Dubai area also. I was told that if you come back via military transport, then there is no worry about customs. I imagine there would be some sort of military inspections, at least, but I'm not sure.
The best bet would be to stay totally honest and contact the USFW. It'll be painful, I'm sure, but better safe than sorry.
Joe.
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Post by navnik531 on Mar 1, 2011 3:39:59 GMT -8
Hi there, as a customs agent in Ali Al Salem Kuwait and as part of the amnesty team here I can tell you that our requirements prohibit any insects alive or dead to make it through the customs process whether alive or dead. It is unfortunate, but when we have people come through with collections like that, and we have had a few, they are required to dispose of it. The only time insects are allowed is if they are encased fully in plastic or glass like some of the key-chain ones available. Now we use x-ray machines to scan all checked bags of soldiers going on r&r and to be honest it most likely would never get seen if it was going through since they are organic and the machine would never see it. I can guarantee many people have gotten them through for the simple fact that we didn't see them. Even if we do find something they never are in trouble, we just make them dispose of it so we are covered. Hope this helps.
Nick
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Post by wingedwishes on Mar 1, 2011 3:57:52 GMT -8
My military friends where I work confirmed navnik531 to me. I once asked them if they had any friends who could get the dreaded camel spiders. They said no. I could sell them if I could get them for a decent price but no animal products allowed.
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diddy
New Member
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Post by diddy on Mar 1, 2011 10:58:58 GMT -8
A friend of my daughter came back from Afghanistan last week. He is a soldier. He has nothing to do with insects or so, but he knows that I am interested in butterflies.
He told me that the German MP was looking for 2 things when they left the country: drugs and animals. As the MP do not know (do not want to know?) what is Cites or not, they confiscate all animals and of course drugs.
All the best
Dietmar
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Post by zachazlett on Mar 2, 2011 8:10:36 GMT -8
Thanks for all the replies. I'm a civilian contractor so I'll be flying on a commercial flight from Afghanistan to Dubai then to Atlanta. My main concern is getting through Dubai and if I will have to go through customs there but from hearing about Kuwait I'm not sure if I can even get them out of Afghanistan. I have it in a wood box that I made so I can carry it through the airports so I won't be hiding it at all.
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Post by zachazlett on Mar 2, 2011 8:13:19 GMT -8
And I don't want to end up in a Dubai jail.  |
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Post by wingedwishes on Mar 7, 2011 10:59:34 GMT -8
I suspect that the insects would be confiscated. I doubt that you would spend any time in jail.
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Post by saturniidave on Mar 7, 2011 16:31:28 GMT -8
You could try repacking them in something else and mailing them to someone in the States.
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Post by timoinsects on Mar 22, 2011 11:51:29 GMT -8
WOW,Zac is a brave collector! you never imagined to be arrested by Ben Laden's troops?
i watched a lot videos before about foreigners were headoffed by terrorists. ;D
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Post by micahliam on Sept 16, 2011 3:47:19 GMT -8
never think of that you could be caught up for this the best to send it through mail bed bugs los angeles |
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Post by pennswoods on Sept 19, 2011 2:07:01 GMT -8
When I was stationed at Okinawa 20-some years ago, I built up a really nice collection. Even built a custom collection box. I had a LOT of good stuff. When it came time to leave, it was the only thing the customs inspector said NO to. I'm sure it's been in a landfill for many years now. If I had half a brain, I would have just kept everything in envelopes and boxed up.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 19, 2011 4:39:57 GMT -8
did you see/catch any bianor ssp.
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