Customs are refusing to release my AIRSOFT PARTS!

[No1_sonuk]

Re: Customs are refusing to release my AIRSOFT PARTS!

Where does this leave you in cases where you order springs and hop up rubbers etc, or is this just applicable to exterior gun parts.

It's main exterior parts like slides that might be half of a RIF. Internal parts and accessories, like lasers, etc. aren't a problem in this regard.

[aribos]

Re: Customs are refusing to release my AIRSOFT PARTS!

As for why it was stopped. Not all airsoft companies have airsoft after their name (shock horror!).

A metal slide can look suspiciously like a slide for a real steel pistol to some untrained (and blind) eyes. Due to them being major parts they would possibly of been stopped due to wondering if other parts of the gun were to follow or if someone had ordered a slide to change a two tone gun (Not sure if customs are up on these things as yet)

As always this is just speculation and just a guess at what has happened.

[Stickybomb]

Re: Customs are refusing to release my AIRSOFT PARTS!

TL;DR of the thread:
Stop whining and give the number if you are registered.

[Vindicator]

Re: Customs are refusing to release my AIRSOFT PARTS!

Well...
For those of you that have actually tried to offer advice, i thank you.
I emailed customs with my details and supplied the necessary legislation as set out in their own customs seizure documentation, hopefully there won’t be a problem. I did query the seizure (as is my right). Holding non-prohibited goods is unlawful without a valid reason or suspicion of illegal activity. As these parts are for a RIF that I already own, there is no legal reason why they would be held nor should I be required to provide any form of membership details.

As for the pointless comments about me ‘whining’ or ‘crying’ about it….. grow up.
In order to support the hobby you have to question, questionable decision, if not then the UKARA its self, would not exist.

[No1_sonuk]

Re: Customs are refusing to release my AIRSOFT PARTS!

You realise the more you get on their nerves, the more they process other stuff before yours, don't you?

[psirus101]

Re: Customs are refusing to release my AIRSOFT PARTS!

HMRC have more powers than any of the other civilian agencies, it's not a good idea to wind them up no matter who's in the wrong.

Iirc HMRC can enter any premises they want and search without a warrant, but thats a discussion for a different day.

To all those crying "Just give them UKARA" I firstly ask you, What if the OP plays at a non-UKARA site and secondly please read my sig.

But I do agree with the sentiments of just play ball with HMRC it'll just go smoother.

[old_and_slow]

Re: Customs are refusing to release my AIRSOFT PARTS!

I do not wish to join the argument as to who is right or wrong in this case however

being a person of advanced years (old) I have learned through life that it doesnt matter that you (I or whoever) is right the fact remains that the other person involved, generally at that time, is holding all the aces therefore it is sometimes necessary to give in to said other party.

Life is far too short and you are a long time dead.

[Caveira]

Re: Customs are refusing to release my AIRSOFT PARTS!

You realise the more you get on their nerves, the more they process other stuff before yours, don't you?

Having spent a short while working for the civil service I can agree with this. Any item pulled out of the system to deal with a chase-up went back to the start and took twice as long to get dealt with.

Iirc HMRC can enter any premises they want and search without a warrant

Spot on.


OP, they have every legal right to hold your items if they "suspect" you may be bringing them in as part of a split-down RIF. Unfortunately, as said before, it's the idiots who've been doing this that make it hard on everyone else. They've been stopping RIF parts and waiting for additional shipments for at least 2 years that I know of (from a cop, who's son I taught, who works at the local port). They have no way of knowing if the slide is for an existing gun or is part of a new one coming in in pieces. Try to see it from their side.

Another thing. To those who think that customs should be able to tell the difference between a RIF slide and a real slide; are you willing to pay the additional tax needed to send every customs official on a firearms handling course? I'm guessing not, so they'll carry on the way they do at the moment which is to pass anything they suspect of being a firearm part to a trained officer (customs or police) for inspection. That way, not only are the training costs reduced, they system runs faster as it works on production line basis where some people do general checking and specialist people do specialist roles. Plus, I'm assuming the slide didn't have any of the working parts inside, so it looks very much like a real slide to the inexperienced eye.

3 doors away from me live a couple of cops. He's on the local ARV teams and she works on the beat. After a discussion about airsoft a while back I asked them both to have a look at a couple of my guns and tell me what they thought. He was able to tell within seconds that they were not real, but despite about 10 years on the job, she said that she'd call in an armed unit if she had to deal with any of them. My wife had a very similar discussion with the AR guys who visited my house after I was posted an L96 wrapped in brown paper!

[cannon_fodder]

Re: Customs are refusing to release my AIRSOFT PARTS!

Be ultra-polite to customs officials. They have the power to ruin your day. In fact they have powers the police can only dream about.
They can seize goods they "suspect" of having the slightest illegal use.

If customs have your goods they have all the aces. You will have to suck up until you have them. After they are in yours hands you can kick-off if you want.

A Bit off topic ...On several stag nights in the dim and distant past we have been stopped by the police for possible public order offenses. The correct response in this situation is " I'm very sorry officer, I'll be getting the groom to the next available Taxi" . This response means you don't get a criminal record or spend the night in the cells and in one case the officer flagged down a taxi for us (result). I've watched will amazement as some idiot starts swearing and ranting at said police officer to be shocked when they get bundled into the back of a police van whilst still protesting their innocence.

Bottom line, Customs can stop anyone or any thing and search without a warrant.They can seize goods . They can take a knife/saw/crowbar to your suitcases/ clothes / car / boat to search for contraband with "reasonable suspicion" . They can enter property without a warrant . I'm sure they can still open fire on you if you fail to stop after a warning shot across your bow. So if you want a good result be nice to them

[Flubber 1123]

Re: Customs are refusing to release my AIRSOFT PARTS!

Although this thread has got into a bit of an arguement, i think it was a good thread because it lets us learn from unfortunate events that happen to others so that when we order something we know to include UKARA etc.

[jediknight129]

Re: Customs are refusing to release my AIRSOFT PARTS!

problem is why should we have too? why shouldnt we hold the gov accountable to the law? ah would be nice wouldnt it oh well till that day stick your head down and hand over the details.