I hate the border agents!!!

[OpusCrosby]

BUSTED!! Before I even started!!!

Well, so much for getting juiced up!

At first I thought I'd just go to Mexico every week and do an injection down there and not run the risk of bringing it back. So I went down to see what the pharmacies offered in Tijuana. I found one that had a good supply and would give me good prices if I bought a whole bunch at a time.

I still wasn't sure what I should do, so I didn't buy anything at that time. Coming back through the border the customs agent asked if I was a US citizen. Before I could answer yes, he waved me through! What a breeze!!! No searches, no I.D., just a simple, "yeah," from my lips! Piece of cake!!

So, this weekend I went down and decided that if it was that simple to get through, why bother driving accross every week, why not just get it all and bring it back.

So I did. I thought of an ingenious place to put it all, inside my spare tire. So I stuffed it all in some baggies and spaced it out so it would all fit and pumped it back with enough pressure to make it look like it was full and reinstalled it in place.

Well, you can tell by my tone that things didn't go so well this time. I don't think I looked any more nervous than the first time through, but the first thing the agent said was, "anything to declare?" and I said nope. Then he asked me to pull into this long line of cars on the side and to step out of the car. Minutes later a big federal truck with some sort of X-ray rod overhead passed through the row of about 25 cars. Next thing I know, this dude in a lowrider and I are singled out and told to stay put while everyone else was let go.

They asked me again if I had anything they should know about before they started looking and I started to sweat, but still said no. They reminded me it was a federal crime to lie to a customs agent.

Homeboy lowrider had the same answer and so we both were escorted to another bay. They started with hommie first and I could see them pulling out bags of pot from his trunk.... The agents got all excited about that and soon there were about 20 over by the lowrider. Then two guys came over to me. Where do you think the first place they check was? Yep, right in my spare tire. BUSTED! The agents didn't really seem to care about their find, they were hoping they'd find some coke or pot like the last guy.... But nope, just some juice.

Long story short, since I didn't have any kind of record before, they slapped me on the wrist and took all my stuff. I have to pay a $6250 fine (I had to pay $1000 on the spot to keep the car from being impounded!). Somehow they totaled up the street value and added some fine on top... Whatever! They said if I do it again and get caught, it's a straight ticket to jail! It's a cloud on my passport forever now, though, which sucks big time since I do all kinds of international travel.

Don't know what happened to hommie, his car was still there when they let me go 5 hours later. I'm sure he didn't fair as well as I did. For that I'm thankful.

It sucks big time, but oh well.... The funniest thing (if there WAS such a thing) is that the big black officer who was questioning me most of the time (who looked pretty juiced himself) said, "don't you know this stuff is dangerous? Don't you watch TV? Haven't you seen the baseball player's grand jury testimony?"

VIVA MEXICO!

 

[Sinis]

Well, if your story is true you got punked and someone (probably at the pharm) called it in. .

 

[cornfish]

That sucks about the gear and fine man, I feel for ya. On a lighter note though, that's a fantastic story Some day you'll look back and laugh like a mo-fo at this

 

[marqui77]

hey slapped me on the wrist and took all my stuff. I have to pay a $6250 fine

Im not so sure I would consider that a slap on the wrist, but its better than going to jail. I have never smuggled anything across the border. But, I didnt make the mistake of busting the border patrols guys balls, on the way back from parting all night. He did'nt find what I said to him too funny, he pulled over me and some freinds, tore apart our whole car, emptied our all of our bags, looking everywhere he possible could in the car, asking all kinds of crazy questions only to say ok you guys can go. Needless to say we spent over an hour at the little border station, in the wee hours over the morning and all were drunk but the DD.

 

[PolfaJelfa]

You are a true genious for trying that. Its your own fault. You put it in the most obvious place. No wonder you got busted. If you knew what you were doing you would of legally beem able to transport small ammounts over with declaration. Repeat this a few times and everything would be across. But you simply chose the worst possible scenario. If you want to try to smuggle something in thi sway which i do not recomend you had better know what you are doing, which you did not.

 

[tiger88]

if you are gonn bring it back, just walk across the boarder and leave your car on USA side...

 

[Synpax]

PolfaJefla - care to explain how to do it better?

I figure the best method to get stuff across would be by putting it in plain sight and re-labeling it as insulin.

 

[PolfaJelfa]

There are methods. However i personally do not encourage anyone to try this. The tire is the FIRST place they are trained to look. I would bring it across legally by declaring it and going back and forth. Customs agents at the borders know what they are doing and they enjoy taking a screw driver and dismantling your vehicle piece by piece if needed.

 

[FatherMike]

PolfaJefla - care to explain how to do it better?

I figure the best method to get stuff across would be by putting it in plain sight and re-labeling it as insulin.

ha!

 

[gymratforlife]

Damn your lucky bro I have a friend in a mess similar to yours I hope he gets off that easy.

 

[idcbp]

There are methods. However i personally do not encourage anyone to try this. The tire is the FIRST place they are trained to look. I would bring it across legally by declaring it and going back and forth. Customs agents at the borders know what they are doing and they enjoy taking a screw driver and dismantling your vehicle piece by piece if needed.

P.J., not to hassle you bro b/c I don't know one way or another, but have you or anyone you know actually done the declaration thing? I ask b/c I've been told that it is not possible in the case of gear, save with a valid prescription from a U.S. liscensed doc which would defeat the purpose anyway. If you have done so or no firsthand of it working I'm very interested. I've heard the theory many times but just as many times I've heard its a myth and whil;e you won't get arrested or fined, you won't get through with your gear either. Please let me know, I'd love some definitive info.

 

[PolfaJelfa]

Yes its true, its the LAW. However many border control agents do no tknow the law themselves. Be prepared know the law then be4 attempting it ask the agents that you plan on carying this across and find out what is the ammount you can take at 1 time. After all its legal on the mexican side so they can not penalize you for asking and declaring. All they may do is denny you and giv eyou back the gear. If you look unconfident and like you do not know what youa re doing they will try to fuck with you and intimidate you and take your gear for themselves.

Im not perfectly sure of how to do this, if to declare for veterinary use or personal medical use. I have heard this from many REPUTABLE people. I have not tried it as i do not cary anything over the border. I woudl be safe if you are going to try this and ask before hand.

 

[black sheep]

Yes its true, its the LAW. However many border control agents do no tknow the law themselves. Be prepared know the law then be4 attempting it ask the agents that you plan on carying this across and find out what is the ammount you can take at 1 time. After all its legal on the mexican side so they can not penalize you for asking and declaring. All they may do is denny you and giv eyou back the gear. If you look unconfident and like you do not know what youa re doing they will try to fuck with you and intimidate you and take your gear for themselves.

Im not perfectly sure of how to do this, if to declare for veterinary use or personal medical use. I have heard this from many REPUTABLE people. I have not tried it as i do not cary anything over the border. I woudl be safe if you are going to try this and ask before hand.

This is not true. I live in AZ close to the border, and I have been to the border in Cali many times before.

You have to have a VALID US script in order to declare, then you can get a 90 day supply. You can get a script in Mexico for about $20, but the US Border patrol will NOT accept that, and will take your shit.

Just recently a 70 y.o man sat in jail for almost a month in mexico for buying perscription drugs without a valid script. The Mexican police caught him before he made it to the border. He was buying blood pressure medicine. You can search the archives at www.azcentral.com to find the storey, it was front page new 6 months ago or so.

YOU CANNOT DECLARE VET GEAR, unless you have the horse with you - LOL

I am not posting this based on what I have heard from " heard this from many REPUTABLE people", I know this to be true.

 

[idcbp]

Thanks for the follow up. I won't be doing it myself though for sure. I've done alot of crazy stuff in my life this far, but I never could bring myself to so much as shoplift a stick of bubblegum. The whole getting caught thing just never seemed worth it and this falls under the same category for me. I'll pay other pros to take the risk.

 

[Sinis]

This is what the law says:


Code of Federal Regulations

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Section 1301.26 Exemptions from import or export requirements for personal medical use.
This page includes changes to the Code of Federal Regulations since April 1, 2004. View Key.

Any individual who has in his/her possession a controlled substance listed in schedules II, III, IV, or V, which he/she has lawfully obtained for his/her personal medical use, or for administration to an animal accompanying him/her, may enter or depart the United States with such substance notwithstanding sections 1002-1005 of the Act (21 U.S.C. 952-955), providing the following conditions are met:

(a) The controlled substance is in the original container in which it was dispensed to the individual; and

(b) The individual makes a declaration to an appropriate official of the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection U.S. Customs Service stating:


(1) That the controlled substance is possessed for his/her personal use, or for an animal accompanying him/her; and
(2) The trade or chemical name and the symbol designating the schedule of the controlled substance if it appears on the container label, or, if such name does not appear on the label, the name and address of the pharmacy or practitioner who dispensed the substance and the prescription number. , if any; and
(c) The importation of the controlled substance for personal medical use is authorized or permitted under other Federal laws and state law.(c) In addition to (and not in lieu of) the foregoing requirements of this section, a United States resident may import into the United States no more than 50 dosage units combined of all such controlled substances in the individual's possession that were obtained abroad for personal medical use. (For purposes of this section, a United States resident is a person whose residence (i.e., place of general abode-- meaning one's principal, actual dwelling place in fact, without regard to intent) is in the United States.) This 50 dosage unit limitation does not apply to controlled substances lawfully obtained in the United States pursuant to a prescription issued by a DEA registrant.

[62 FR 13952, Mar. 24, 1997]




http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/21cfr/cfr/1301/1301_26.htm




and:

The above guidance does not specify that a U.S. citizen may import an unapproved drug only with a prescription from a U.S. licensed physician, or that a foreign citizen may import an unapproved new drug only with a foreign prescription. Rather, to ensure that the importation is for personal use only (and not for resale), and to ensure that the use of the unapproved new drug sought to be imported into the U.S. is supervised and does not represent an unreasonable risk, the guidance provides that the individual affirm in writing that the drug is for his or her personal use, and provide either the name and address of the U.S. licensed physician who will supervise its use or some evidence that the treatment was begun in a foreign country and that the drugs are being imported to continue/conclude the already begun treatment. Thus, while not the only documentation, either a U.S. or foreign prescription, along with an affirmation of personal use, could be supplied as evidence that this factor exists.


http://www.fda.gov/ora/import/pipinfo.htm




From Customs own brochure:

Rule of thumb: When you go abroad, take the medicines you will need, no more, no less.
Narcotics and certain other drugs with a high potential for abuse—Rohypnol, GHB, and Fen-Phen, to name a few — may not be brought into the United States, and there are severe penalties for trying to do so. If you need medicines that contain potentially addictive drugs or narcotics (e.g., some cough medicines, tranquilizers, sleeping pills, antidepressants, or stimulants), do the following:
• Declare all drugs, medicinals, and similar products to the appropriate CBP official.
• Carry such substances in their original containers.
• Carry only the quantity of such substances that a person with that condition (e.g., chronic pain) would normally carry for his/her personal use.
• Carry a prescription or written statement from your physician that the substances are being used under a doctor's supervision and that they are necessary for your physical well being while traveling.

U.S. residents entering the United States at international land borders, who are carrying a validly obtained controlled substance (other than narcotics such as marijuana, cocaine, heroin, or LSD), are subject to certain additional requirements. If a U.S. resident wants to bring in a controlled substance (other than narcotics such as marijuana, cocaine, heroin, or LSD) but does not have a prescription for the substance issued by a U.S.-licensed practitioner (e.g., physician, dentist, etc.) who is registered with, and authorized by, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to prescribe the medication, the individual may not import more than 50 dosage units of the medication into the United States. If the U.S. resident has a prescription for the controlled substance issued by a DEA registrant, more than 50 dosage units may be imported by that person, provided all other legal requirements are met.

\Please note that only medications that can be legally prescribed in the United States may be imported for personal use. Be aware that possession of certain substances may also violate state laws. As a general rule, the FDA does not allow the importation of prescription drugs that were purchased outside the United States. Please see their Website for information about the enforcement policy for personal use quantities.

***Then see above from FDA own site...

 

[fearfulsymmetry]

I smell bacon....

How about a ham sandwich?

 

[Makavelli]

1) Never put it in a spare tire. Very obvious. 2) You can only bring it back and declare it in Juarez. Doesn't work in TJ.

Not to flame ya bro, but you should have read my thread from a few months ago. Same thing happened to my friend. He didn't pay as much as you, but it's still on his passport. I know the best place best to hide gear, but after what happened to my friend, I'll never do it again.

 

[idcbp]

While posting law documents is an interesting read and all, I believe black sheep is telling us what is going down at the border. I've always had an inkling that this was the way it would play out, being that it sounds doable here and now, but just won't fly at the border. If it did way more bros would do it.

 

[Sinis]

The problem is people are bringing through drugs that ARE NOT approved for use by the FDA. So you need to find out what is approved for use in this country(USA) for HRT. Test eth is one generic hormone used. So you get your physician papers (Mx physician), declaration sheet that you are using this for personal use and for an ongoing medical condition , printouts of the CFR, FDA website, Customs Brochure (in case you get challenged), and your 50 units and they can't say DICK! If they do seize it you contest it and ask them what papers need to be filed as you have followed the letter and intent of the law 100%. Normally when seizures are contested they will notice you and if you contest it it becomes a Judicial matter not an internal admin matter. The AUSA will review the case and defer any prosecution or seizure procedures. They will instruct Customs to release the items. Once again THIS ONLY WORKS IF YOU ARE DECLARING APPROVED DRUGS ON FDA's LIST!

 

[idcbp]

The problem is people are bringing through drugs that ARE NOT approved for use by the FDA. So you need to find out what is approved for use in this country(USA) for HRT. Test eth is one generic hormone used. So you get your physician papers (Mx physician), declaration sheet that you are using this for personal use and for an ongoing medical condition , printouts of the CFR, FDA website, Customs Brochure (in case you get challenged), and your 50 units and they can't say DICK! If they do seize it you contest it and ask them what papers need to be filed as you have followed the letter and intent of the law 100%. Normally when seizures are contested they will notice you and if you contest it it becomes a Judicial matter not an internal admin matter. The AUSA will review the case and defer any prosecution or seizure procedures. They will instruct Customs to release the items. Once again THIS ONLY WORKS IF YOU ARE DECLARING APPROVED DRUGS ON FDA's LIST!

Forgive me if I'm misunderstanding, but with physicians papers, you mean from a doc liscensed in the U.S. right? It wouldn't work with a foreign script. In this case, I'd just fill it in the U.S., but I doubt many have a script. Sheep is saying that while the law might appear to say you can imprt in practice the border agents do not.

 

[Sinis]

Forgive me if I'm misunderstanding, but with physicians papers, you mean from a doc liscensed in the U.S. right? It wouldn't work with a foreign script. In this case, I'd just fill it in the U.S., but I doubt many have a script. Sheep is saying that while the law might appear to say you can imprt in practice the border agents do not.

No worries the law says you can, no questions. You are allowed to seek treatment in a FOREIGN country and import the required drugs into this country if the drugs are approved for use by the FDA. Customs allows the importation of 50 units. They refer said drugs to the FDA. The FDA states this:

or some evidence that the treatment was begun in a foreign country and that the drugs are being imported to continue/conclude the already begun treatment. Thus, while not the only documentation, either a U.S. or foreign prescription, along with an affirmation of personal use, could be supplied as evidence that this factor exists.

So, you do not need a US script. It is sufficient to have treatment performed by a foreign doctor, documented along with the APPROVED FDA drug. The ONLY hitch in this entire thing is that although the Feds allow the importation of said drug the State in which you live may have different laws that stipulate that a drug must be prescribed by a licensed US doc. This is completely seperate than what the Feds say. One such case is being battled out in Texas concerning this. The drugs were imported legally on the fed level but the State is saying otherwise. So unless you get popped by the State you are completely covered/allowed to import an APPROVED FDA drug into this country.

 

[madhacker]

Forgive me if I'm misunderstanding, but with physicians papers, you mean from a doc liscensed in the U.S. right? It wouldn't work with a foreign script. In this case, I'd just fill it in the U.S., but I doubt many have a script. Sheep is saying that while the law might appear to say you can imprt in practice the border agents do not.

Re-read the last paragraph of Sinis's post.

 

[mrstamiina]

You should have just strapped it on you.

They don't run you through the same kind of xray, if they even do at all.


I've done it amny times. Even on the planes. Never been caught.


Now everytime you try to cross the border your going to get hassled, because you were caught once.

 

[Sinis]

Very true, EVERY time you re enter into the country they will run your name and you will get questioned or searched or both. That stigma will follow you for a very long time...

 

[idcbp]

Thanks for the clarification bros, but in this case we are back to if not square one damn near it. Sinis, your explanation of the law is on point and I understand it now, but we ar still left with the other half of the battle. Black sheep is a good bro who can be taken at his word and he's saying that this move is not working in real world situations at the border.

 

[peach0341]

Very true, EVERY time you re enter into the country they will run your name and you will get questioned or searched or both. That stigma will follow you for a very long time...

They only fuck with you if they run your id. Alot of times they just ask a few questions and don't even run your id thru.

 

[Makavelli]

Funny story: I'll always remember the time that I was coming back and my fucking car died right in the middle of Revolution! I was shitting my pants, fixed the problem(which was related to the amount of gear I had there), and just as I did a Federali car passed by. I waved got in my car and then sweated the next hour while waiting in line. At the same time I was in an argument with my GF on the phone! Talk about stress. Waiting for my car to die again and then I'd be fucked. I pulled up to the station and the guy was just about to get off his shift. As he's getting up he says "U.S.?". I shook my head yes, and he says "go ahead"! I didn't even have to say a word! That's very rare my friends. I was lucky...

 

[OpusCrosby]

Well, I wish I had that kind of luck. I've been through the border several times and everytime (except this last one) they seem to be only concerned about my citizenship. (Never have to prove it though). But not this time.

It seems like they are more concerned about pot and perscription drugs than stopping illegal immigration, which in my opinion is a much bigger problem to society! (the libertarian in me is surely showing through) Who (besides them) really cares about Rx's and pot really? Not the general public! Just the elites in the government. But we can have millions of people come here illegaly and wreck our economy and drain our system of millions and millions of dollars, and big brother basically says, "come on in." CA is bankrupt because of it and soon AZ, NM and TX will be too. And God forbid another 9/11 happens because of holes in our border.

In the mean time, stop all the pot and prescriptions coming through!!! Yeah, that sounds like a great domestic policy!

Sorry, not a political site, I know...... Hmm...

 

[Makavelli]

Well, I wish I had that kind of luck. I've been through the border several times and everytime (except this last one) they seem to be only concerned about my citizenship. (Never have to prove it though). But not this time.

It seems like they are more concerned about pot and perscription drugs than stopping illegal immigration, which in my opinion is a much bigger problem to society! (the libertarian in me is surely showing through) Who (besides them) really cares about Rx's and pot really? Not the general public! Just the elites in the government. But we can have millions of people come here illegaly and wreck our economy and drain our system of millions and millions of dollars, and big brother basically says, "come on in." CA is bankrupt because of it and soon AZ, NM and TX will be too. And God forbid another 9/11 happens because of holes in our border.

In the mean time, stop all the pot and prescriptions coming through!!! Yeah, that sounds like a great domestic policy!

Sorry, not a political site, I know...... Hmm...

Actually bro, they're not really that concerned about your citizenship. They ask you that question to get a read about if you have anything. Sometimes when I would roll up they wouldn't say anything, just stare me down. I noticed that if I just looked them in the eye and waited for them to speak first, it was cool. If I spoke first, like "Hi", they would start poking around in my car. Funny actually. I love psychology, so it amuses me...

 

[VeteranNewbie88]

Yeah Nogales scared me when I was there

This is not true. I live in AZ close to the border, and I have been to the border in Cali many times before.

You have to have a VALID US script in order to declare, then you can get a 90 day supply. You can get a script in Mexico for about $20, but the US Border patrol will NOT accept that, and will take your shit.

Just recently a 70 y.o man sat in jail for almost a month in mexico for buying perscription drugs without a valid script. The Mexican police caught him before he made it to the border. He was buying blood pressure medicine. You can search the archives at www.azcentral.com to find the storey, it was front page new 6 months ago or so.

YOU CANNOT DECLARE VET GEAR, unless you have the horse with you - LOL

I am not posting this based on what I have heard from " heard this from many REPUTABLE people", I know this to be true.

 

[PolfaJelfa]

This is not true. I live in AZ close to the border, and I have been to the border in Cali many times before.

You have to have a VALID US script in order to declare, then you can get a 90 day supply. You can get a script in Mexico for about $20, but the US Border patrol will NOT accept that, and will take your shit.

Just recently a 70 y.o man sat in jail for almost a month in mexico for buying perscription drugs without a valid script. The Mexican police caught him before he made it to the border. He was buying blood pressure medicine. You can search the archives at www.azcentral.com to find the storey, it was front page new 6 months ago or so.

YOU CANNOT DECLARE VET GEAR, unless you have the horse with you - LOL

I am not posting this based on what I have heard from " heard this from many REPUTABLE people", I know this to be true.

You are not posting this on what you have heard but on what you know bro? Well i guess now you see that what you know is completely wrong! Just read the law, its plain and simple. You havent caught the drift on the "reputable people" if you know what i mean.

 

[Beachbum1546]

dont most pharms in mexico call the border patrol and give a descrip of you and your car if they see it after you buy steroids/whatever illegal drugs? i've read that before, it's like they have a deal with each other.

 

[black sheep]

dont most pharms in mexico call the border patrol and give a descrip of you and your car if they see it after you buy steroids/whatever illegal drugs? i've read that before, it's like they have a deal with each other.

It is more of an issue with Cab drivers than Pharm workers. I always change my look after I left a store and I never let the store see what I was driving. I suggest going off the beaten path to purchase your goods. The prices are much cheaper and the worries about the pharm turning you in is not a issue.

 

[black sheep]

You are not posting this on what you have heard but on what you know bro? Well i guess now you see that what you know is completely wrong! Just read the law, its plain and simple. You havent caught the drift on the "reputable people" if you know what i mean.

There are tons of laws out there that are not known by those enforcing, or are not enforced. Check out www.dumblaws.com for a few laws that are on the books that no one enforces.

I am simply stating what actually happens at the TJ border. If you want to take a doctor and a lawyer along with you to buy your gear, and you have a copy of the law with you, you will probably be okay.

But lets jump out of fantasy land for just a moment and realize that in the real world, especially this day and age, you will no be bringing back gear unless you have a valid US script, and you are bringing back ONLY what is outlined in that script.

Argue all you want. As a matter of fact I recommend that you go do what you are suggesting to prove your point.