lawyer who deals with customs seizures

Full Answer

What does a customs seizure lawyer do?

The Customs Seizure Lawyers at the National Security Law Firm assists individuals in the filing of administrative petitions with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (“CBP”) with respect to seized goods and currency and obtaining the release of their property from CBP.

What happens if you are wrongly accused of a customs seizure?

U.S. Customs Seizures are almost always a surprise and may happen even when you attempt to follow applicable laws and regulations. If you are an importer wrongly accused, we will stand between you and CBP to petition for release of a seizure and /or seek the reduction or complete elimination of any fines and penalties.

What can the Customs Act be used to seize?

The Customs Act also authorizes officers to seize passenger-carrying conveyances and anything else that may provide evidence of a contravention of the Customs Act. Pursuant to a seizure, the CBSA takes possession of your goods and acquires ownership in accordance with the Customs Act.

What is seizure and forfeiture of imports?

Seizure and forfeiture of imported goods is a little known corner of the customs enforcement campus and that is to be reckoned a good thing. After all, importers should be able to freely move their goods across borders, subject of course to all of the formalities that attend such transactions.

What happens when you get a seizure letter from Customs?

The issuance of a seizure notice is necessary to begin the legal process for the forfeiture of the importer's goods or merchandise. The importer then has the opportunity to make a claim for court action or judicial review which is the best way to get the goods back quickly.

What happens when Customs seizes your money?

If your money is seized at an airport or border crossing, the agent should give you a “Custody Receipt for Seized Property and Evidence” (Form 6051S). you might also receive a “currency inventory sheet” and memorandum.

How do I file a complaint with the CBP?

By phone: Complaints may be reported by calling the CBP INFO Center. For domestic calls, the toll-free number is 877-227-5511. For international and/or local calls, the number is 202-325-8000.

How do I get a seized car back from CBP?

When the impounded vehicle remains a seized item, the owner cannot retrieve it. However, when contacting the CBP agency in person, he or she can reacquire the relevant truck. This often requires giving copies of all documentation of ownership and a reason why a worker was picking up undocumented workers.

Can you get in trouble if Customs seizes your package?

As the importer, your first response might be to “do nothing” and let CBP act in essence as a de facto testing house by seizing parts. Doing so, however, may send the wrong signals to CBP and can also result in financial penalties in the form of fines.

Can you sue the CBP?

A broad court ruling could shape whether and how federal Border Patrol agents—or federal law enforcement officers generally—can be sued for alleged wrongdoing. “This case goes to the heart of the rule of law and fundamental principles of constitutional accountability,” says David H.

How do I contact the border Force?

Phone number: 020 7035 4848.

Where is CBP headquarters located?

Washington, D.C.U.S. Customs and Border Protection / Headquarters

What does US Customs and Border Protection do?

Detecting and preventing terrorists and terrorist weapons from entering the United States. Enforcing customs, immigration, and agricultural laws and regulations at U.S. ports of entry and preclearance locations worldwide. Preventing the illegal trafficking of people, narcotics, and contraband into the United States.

How long does it take to get a seized car back from Border Patrol?

Seized property - Status and returns. The Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officer that seized the property should have forwarded the case to the appropriate supervisor for approval within 24 hours. The case is then referred to the Fines, Penalties and Forfeitures (FP&F) office within three working days.

What does Border Patrol do with seized items?

If CBP finds a customs violation, they will seize the subject goods and transfer them to a bonded warehouse. Forfeitures of seized goods or currency are handled by a department known as Fines, Penalties, and Forfeitures (FP&F).

What is a notice of seizure?

What Is a Notice of Seizure? A notice of seizure is a written notice from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to inform either an individual taxpayer or business that the government has seized its property.

When will the US Customs seize money?

US Customs Money Seizures. June 20, 2020. Most people make the mistake of believing that only cash is subject to seizure. When they fail to report other currency on the required report during customs, they are surprised to find other monetary instruments are confiscated.

How long do you have to file a petition for a cash seizure?

Time is of the essence, and in most cases you must file a petition within 30 days of the seizure notice.

Do NOT Miss the Deadline!

The most important part of your notice of seizure are its deadlines. Typically, a person has 35 days from the date the notice of seizure is mailed to deliver their claim to CBP, DEA, or whoever the federal seizing agency is. However, your deadline may be different, depending on the option you choose.

What is a Notice of Seizure? What is a Customs Seizure Notice?

Was your money seized by US Customs (CBP)? Administrative forfeiture begins when the seizing agency sends a notice of seizure to interested parties. When federal law enforcement seizes money, they have 60 days to send a notice of seizure.

What happens if you are wrongly accused of a seizure?

If you are an importer wrongly accused, we will stand between you and CBP to petition for release of a seizure and /or seek the reduction or complete elimination of any fines and penalties.

What is a CBP detention notice?

You may have received a Seizure or Detention notice from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), found out that you are the target of an investigation, or discovered that you are otherwise to be penalized for the alleged violation of a CBP–enforced regulation. You need counsel to protect your rights. Rights not asserted in a timely manner are ...

What are the categories of goods subject to seizure?

In general, there are several categories of goods subject to seizure: Prohibited merchandise (such as counterfeit goods) Restricted merchandise (such as goods subject to FDA or DFW control) Undeclared or smuggled merchandise (such as monetary instruments over. $10,000).

What are some examples of customs laws?

An example of a customs law that provides for such an enforcement remedy is Section 497 of the Tariff Act of 1930,4 a passenger’s failure to declare merchandise. Another example is the seizure and forfeiture of counterfeit good s.5.

What is the first step in a seizure?

First, there are two types of seizures. In the first, the law itself provides for forfeiture , and the first step is the seizure of the imported good. If the seizure ripens to forfeiture , the title to the goods passes to the government. In the second type of seizure, which is quite exceptional, the government can seize the goods in order to secure payment of a civil penalty.1 We shall discuss only the first such type.

Do you have to sign a hold harmless letter for a seizure?

In fact, that is the general rule—remission of the seizure, i.e., the return of the goods will always come with strings attached. The property owner will have to sign a hold harmless letter, pay storage costs and normally pay a monetary penalty which is a function of the dutiable value of the property.

Is there a customs form for a seizure?

In fact, there is no specific customs form for a petition although, not surprisingly, the regulations18 do specify that certain basic information must be set forth—the date of the seizure, a description of the merchandise, facts justifying the relief sought and proof of the petitionable interest in the goods.

Is a seizure a good thing?

Customs seizures and forfeitures. Seizure and forfeiture of imported goods is a little known corner of the customs enforcement campus and that is to be reckoned a good thing. After all, importers should be able to freely move their goods across borders, subject of course to all of the formalities that attend such transactions.