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Ah! Those fun-loving Costa Rican Customs officials - a warning

My friend, a working girl living in Cartago asked me to find and buy a replacement battery for her laptop. I found a replacement for $30.00. As long as I was going to the expense of mailing the battery to her, I thought to also put a few other things into the box. A Playstation game ($34.00) for her k*ds, a couple jars of assorted seasonings, a tin of black pepper, and a crucifix that had belonged to my mother. Total value of the package was around $70.00.

The postage was equal to the value of the box contents, but that's usually how it goes. No worries there.

However, I learned a few weeks later that Aduana (Customs) had held the box for payment of $70.00 duty. Even though the package contents were honestly listed on the Customs forms, even though the package was clearly labeled as a gift, even though nothing in the box is prohibited...they still demanded the $70.00 duty.

Then, when my friend had paid the $70.00 duty, she was told that she needed to go to the Ministry of Health, because the box contained (factory sealed, dry) spices. The "seal" from the Ministerio de Salud cost her nothing, but cab fares/bus fares...

As of this writing, she still has not received the package.

She was told by the officials at the Health Ministry that it is illegal or restricted to send *any* food item to Costa Rica. The official was unable to quote chapter and verse of C.R. law to prove this.

Scam? Maybe. Perhaps tico readers or expats living in C.R. could offer some insight here; I'd appreciate it.

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Pura Vulva! Wandering through the dark, I am El Ciego.

EL C,
I have been looking into relocating to CR for some time now. I know somewhere I have a list of prohibited items and certain foodstuffs are on it, it did name spices. So I was thinking about mixing them up within boxes to see how much I could get through. I do need them for some of my BBQ rubs and seasonings for other dishes.
Regards, 911 Driver

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The happy hour is a device either for getting rid of social obligations hurriedly en masse or for making overtures toward more serious social relationships, as in the etiquette of whoring.- Brooks Atkinson

I've had no issue with rubs and things like crushed red pepper flakes through the airport Aduna.

But the airport customs guys are getting very tough. Costa Rica is teetering on the edge of a fiscal cliff and the government is squeezing for every colone.

Just wait - Carlito's administration will have the chicas charging the 13% VAT and giving you and the Hacienda a fractura electronica.

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Any opinion or observation in the post above is purely presented for entertainment purposes and does not promote "sexual tourism" or "human trafficking". The laws of Costa Rica apply to all activities in Costa Rica. No warranty is expressed or implied. Void where prohibited by law. Your experience, observations or perspective may be different.

In exile in pu*sy prison

I get it regarding the spices, even though two of the taritos I sent are sold in C.R. at Wal*Mart, just not in the size I sent. What bugs me is the approx. 100% import duty, as much as anything. I do like to send little Christmas gifts etc. to my tico friends, not only a couple different chicas, but a family in Atenas, an expat friend in Tibas etc. This really throws a wet blanket on the idea of international friendship. MM3's point is well taken. As I sometimes travel to C.R. with multiple sex toys in my suitcase, I wonder if they'll soon be charging a Dildo Duty.

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Pura Vulva! Wandering through the dark, I am El Ciego.

I was having the VA hospital in Miami send me medicine. The aduana grabbed 5 prescription items and would Not let me have them. They mentioned something about a ministry of health certificate for each item. I now buy locally what I can't get at the caja.

My sis once sent me a bottle of Louisiana hot sauce along with some clothes via Aeropost. It turned out to be the most expensive bottle of hot sauce I have ever seen, not to mention the customs inspection and invoices needed. I figured final cost was about $30.00!

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I am NOT a Cien Boy!!

They have stolen stuff from me at the airport. Had an expensive tube of hand lotion. The girl at security took it. I asked why and she couldn’t give me an answer. She wanted it that’s why.

I was thinking about coming down in January. But reading this forum gives me second thoughts. I love the place but not the gringo tax.

Send everything through amazon much easier

More money needs to go into making teleportation a reality.
And let the chicas come here directly into your living room, ( unless you're not single ).

Actually, well, let's go over there. A little caution is in order.