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Border Force seized RIF

I've been through this several times, the last one was just last week. You've already been given the advice you need, but I thought I would add to this thread...

They can absolutely seize it under Section 36 of VCR Act: "(7) A realistic imitation firearm brought into Great Britain shall be liable to forfeiture under the customs and excise Acts."

The defences in Section 37 apply when you are charged with an offence, which Border Force aren't doing. In reality they will release it to you provided you have a defence, at least they have in all of my seizures going back 10+ years.

The letter does cover it, but if it isn't clear, you want "Restoration". Write to them at the address provided, make sure your name and address is on the letter, provide them with your defence, IE, UKARA number and the site you play at. They have access to UKARA, which makes me think maybe it wasn't on the box, or wasn't clear. I would also advise to add your email on it to and ask them to contact you that way if there are any further issues, you don't want to be going back and forth by post. You also have to provide an invoice or receipt of the goods, again this should have your name and address on.

Failing that, Border Force do take bribes; Send them a box of Ferraro Rochettes and all your problems will be solved.

Good luck.

 
Neptune said:
In reality they will release it to you provided you have a defence, at least they have in all of my seizures going back 10+ years.
Click to expand...


De jure, it's a defence to the offence, not a licence to import. Although they do - de facto - choose to treat it as though it were.  That's tucked away in the small print of a document (IIRC) relating to ferries from Ireland.

 
Neptune said:
Failing that, Border Force do take bribes; Send them a box of Ferraro Rochettes and all your problems will be solved.
Click to expand...
Ferrero Rocher works with the Foreign & Commonwealth office (Ambassador, you are spoiling us)

For Border Force it’s Toblerone - there’s a clue in the duty free shop 

 
Well gentlemen, what a painless process that was. A week after making contact with BF via email and requesting to speak directly with the officer associated with my case, my GHK Glock 17 Gen 5 has arrived. 
 

Can’t thank all of you enough for your sound advise, it’s been very much appreciated and will endeavor to help anyone in the future as you have all helped me??

View attachment 141358

 
In the past I have preempted it and upon receipt of tracking details e mailed BF to say the package is on the way and included a copy of my defence.  I also e mail a cover letter addressed to BF to seller and ask them to print it and include in envelope on package marked FAO BF.  Always worked but took awhile as i didn't have a UKARA Registered Site Membership. I played milsim games on MOD Sites so as such organisers had no site or membership scheme.  SO customs used to write / telephone them to confirm my details.  This however was years ago.

 
BigAl said:
In the past I have preempted it and upon receipt of tracking details e mailed BF to say the package is on the way and included a copy of my defence.  I also e mail a cover letter addressed to BF to seller and ask them to print it and include in envelope on package marked FAO BF.  Always worked but took awhile as i didn't have a UKARA Registered Site Membership. I played milsim games on MOD Sites so as such organisers had no site or membership scheme.  SO customs used to write / telephone them to confirm my details.  This however was years ago.
Click to expand...


Do you still have the e-mail for them that you used?

 
This post make me so nervous, I had my G17 Rif just arrive at the UK customs from Tai Wan yesterday...I did provided my UKARA to the shop when I order and they did put my UKARA number on the lable, hope everything go smooth. Wish me luck.

Does anyone know normally how long it take for the customs clearance? (I know there will have some delay, as its Christmas and new year holiday coming up), Thanks

View attachment 141872

 
It takes several days, so that's completely normal. It might be longer with it being around Christmas. I doubt you'll see any movement until at least the end of next week.

 
Clearance takes as long as it takes 

I had a belt & mag pouches take two weeks to clear customs - one week to assess charges the first time, but not release it and another week to reassess customs charges

(if I recall correctly the final amount was slightly less than the first price I had been quoted on the phone)

View attachment 141888

 
As it arrived yesterday, don’t worry about the worst case circumstances that you see on here

There could be some more delay due to the season with lots coming in and things being slow

The first thing is that it will stop and sit for someone to look

‘looking’ will mostly involve getting to that entry on the system and checking declarations 

When checking the first question is whether it’s legal to import (ignore that under the VCRA it’s illegal to import RIFs, but defences exist allowing import - so for theses purposes we’ll just say RIFs are legal to import 

They may consider joule limits - that it is a UK legal airsoft RIF

Next - are there controls on its import - yes there are.  Your UKARA details will pass that - either on the face of it or with checking your details match 

Declarations may suffice from the retailer, but you are the importer so you will probably get a declaration form to complete

(Respond with yes it’s a RIF, yes I have a defence - here it is, and if applicable yes it is within joules etc)

Once happy with the item being suitable for import it is considered for charges

The retailers customs declaration may be used for values or they may reassess value (my recalculated charges reflected the declared value so I don’t know the reasoning for the change - perhaps error correction, perhaps currency conversion)

You get sent a bill

(perhaps the same time as the RIF declaration)

These may be by post, email or you may be able to identify them in the tracking and phone (the declaration has to be filled in so try phoning to check if they have details to email it)

Payment may be doable on the phone - I was not able to pay mine on the phone, they wanted me to pay via a card sent to me, but in fact I went in person to the regional depot before the card got to me

Once any declarations and payments are cleared it is fully released - either for delivery or you can collect if at a convenient depot 

(don’t pay online or by phone if you intend to collect as they will dispatch it)

 
Neptune said:
It takes several days, so that's completely normal. It might be longer with it being around Christmas. I doubt you'll see any movement until at least the end of next week.
Click to expand...


Yeah, I think so too. 

Tommikka said:
Clearance takes as long as it takes 

I had a belt & mag pouches take two weeks to clear customs - one week to assess charges the first time, but not release it and another week to reassess customs charges

(if I recall correctly the final amount was slightly less than the first price I had been quoted on the phone)

View attachment 141888
Click to expand...
wow, even for only belt & mag pouches?  

Tommikka said:
As it arrived yesterday, don’t worry about the worst case circumstances that you see on here

There could be some more delay due to the season with lots coming in and things being slow

The first thing is that it will stop and sit for someone to look

‘looking’ will mostly involve getting to that entry on the system and checking declarations 

When checking the first question is whether it’s legal to import (ignore that under the VCRA it’s illegal to import RIFs, but defences exist allowing import - so for theses purposes we’ll just say RIFs are legal to import 

They may consider joule limits - that it is a UK legal airsoft RIF

Next - are there controls on its import - yes there are.  Your UKARA details will pass that - either on the face of it or with checking your details match 

Declarations may suffice from the retailer, but you are the importer so you will probably get a declaration form to complete

(Respond with yes it’s a RIF, yes I have a defence - here it is, and if applicable yes it is within joules etc)

Once happy with the item being suitable for import it is considered for charges

The retailers customs declaration may be used for values or they may reassess value (my recalculated charges reflected the declared value so I don’t know the reasoning for the change - perhaps error correction, perhaps currency conversion)

You get sent a bill

(perhaps the same time as the RIF declaration)

These may be by post, email or you may be able to identify them in the tracking and phone (the declaration has to be filled in so try phoning to check if they have details to email it)

Payment may be doable on the phone - I was not able to pay mine on the phone, they wanted me to pay via a card sent to me, but in fact I went in person to the regional depot before the card got to me

Once any declarations and payments are cleared it is fully released - either for delivery or you can collect if at a convenient depot 

(don’t pay online or by phone if you intend to collect as they will dispatch it)
Click to expand...
Thank you for the detailed respond, I hope i dont have to do the RIF declaration, this will makes things easier. 

and I think I will just drive to the depot to pay and collect the parcel there, its will be way faster to wait. But do I go to the depot when the update shows that the parcel has been arrived to the national depot? 

 
I imported a pair of gel blasters from Australia at the begining of the year, and I had no issues.  The operating principle is no different to airsoft pews here.  However, airsoft is banned in Australia, and "gel blasters" have become a popular alternative.  In all states (except Queensland, where I was) a licence is needed to hold a gel blaster...  Strange I know...

A P90 SmG and a Glock G17.

I of course was concerned about this exact issue, so I contacted Customs here both by phone and email from Australia to try and figure out what my steps were to be able to import them.

I was told that there is a comodity code that covers air weapons (9304 0000 00) which covers the importation of airsoft weapons with customs.  I had no issues whatsoever and they arrived literally no more than a week after I got home from Australia.  I was never even contacted by Customs or the police about my pews...

If you are carrying them in your own lugguage, you first have to tell the airline you are carrying them (don't use Singapore Airlines, or you will be prohibited from travelling, this is why I had to ship mine with a specialist freight company at a cost of £772 at the time as I paid in AUD), and if they allow you to carry them, place them in your checked lugguage and declare them to customs when you arrive in the UK.  They may inspect them to make sure they are not real firearms, however that should be it.

I hope that this info helps in some way in future.

 
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