Australian Customs seized (stole) my knife

EDC Gear for Flashlight Carriers
1

I got a dreaded customs letter today saying they have seized a knife I tried to "import". Basically I can't request a review of the decision. I can request a claim for return of the goods. If I don't get an import permit they will take me to court. If I lose they will request court costs.

WTF. I think it was a Ganzo Pocket Knife SP-G710 axis lock. I had a bad feeling about it even though I have bought other axis lock knifes. They seem to regulary open most of my packages. Looks like my knife buying days are over. I will call tomorrow but they have designed the system so you can't appeal it without incurring court costs.

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I found a photo of the custom's officer

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Sorry to hear that.

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Did they give you a reason? Seems like a fairly standard/legal looking knife? From the looks of the pictures I can find there is no way it should have been seized. I know customs can be a pack of ***** though. What import permit are they asking you to get?

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CUSTOMS ACT 1901 - SECT 203B

Seizure without warrant of special forfeited goods, or of evidential material relating to special forfeited goods, at a Customs place

(1) This section applies in 2 circumstances, namely:

(a) in a circumstance where an authorised person suspects on reasonable grounds that there are special forfeited goods:

(i) at, or in a container (other than a designated container in the immediate physical possession of a person to whom subparagraph (b)(i) applies) at, a Customs place; or

(ii) in, on, or in a container (other than a designated container in the immediate physical possession of a person to whom subparagraph (b)(i) applies) on, a conveyance at a Customs place; or

(b) in a circumstance where a person:

(i) is at a Customs place that is also a designated place; and

(ii) has a designated container, or has goods reasonably suspected by an authorised person to be special forfeited goods, in his or her immediate physical possession; but

(iii) is not carrying that container or those goods on his or her body.

Note 1: Container and designated container have special definitions for the purposes only of this Division.

Note 2: The baggage of a passenger entering or leaving Australia or of the captain or crew of a vessel or aircraft so entering or leaving is not a designated container.

Note 3: To determine the question whether a person is carrying a designated container, or goods reasonably suspected of being special forfeited goods, on his or her body, see subsection 4(19).

(2) In the circumstance referred to in paragraph (1)(a), the authorised person may, without warrant:

(a) search the Customs place, or the container at that place, for special forfeited goods; or

(b) stop and detain at the Customs place the conveyance and search it and any container on it for special forfeited goods;

as the case requires, and seize any goods that the authorised person reasonably suspects are special forfeited goods if the authorised person finds them there.

whatver that BS means. Its the axis lock that is the issue. It can be interpreted as an assisted opening knife. Not sure of the permit but if I fail to get one they will take me to court and may seek costs. Its designed so you don't bother.

The importation of these goods is prohibited by Reg 4(1) sched 2, item 19 of the Customs (prohibited Imports) regulations unless permission in writing to import goods has been granted.

I can't even find that lego on it when searching the database

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Also the covering letter says "the importation has been recorded and prosecution action is possibe in the future if other prohibited imports addressed to you are intercepted by Customs and Border Protection."

Hope DD doesn't send me a laser by mistake. lol

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lol

Sorry to hear. You can always ask the green Dino from Ottas. Otta, what does it mean?

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Just stick to Lock backs - Safe to import ... Or fixed blades ... Or old style knives

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edc, I know it's just a knife, but I feel sorry for your loss. :(

I think Australia has more poisonous animals than any other country, and you can't buy a pocketknife to defend yourself? |(

I guess it's time to break out the Necronomicon and sic Pinhead on the custom's officer (again). :)

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It's not easy to find, since it's not mentioned in the regulation itself, but in the amendment of that:

I don't agree that the knife should be classified as "flick knife", but I guess my opinion doesn't matter..

BUT, it seems that it's possible to get the permit and import the knife after that:

http://www.australianbladeforums.com/vb4/showthread.php?352-Review-Doug-Ritter-RSK-Mk1&s=a9baba068f74f25c8d9cf7bf4fe644b1

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thanks for that. I won't bother. Can't really say I need it as I have heaps of knives already and it isn't worth the hassle for a knife under $20. It does not open automically but it is possible to sort of flick them open once you press on the axis lock.

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Just returned from Hong Kong. My Sog knife was still in the luggage!

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I wonder if I could get a permit for an OTF knife?

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Theres another forum I go to that covers knifemaking and every week their is a thread about people getting knives siezed by customs in the UK. They reffer to Mount Pleasant ( the uk customs area for mail) as Mount Doom.

The problem in the UK is similar although they seem to have a guy who can flick open standard knives so they sieze those too. What gets me is the appeal process is the same as the Auz one, Your guilty straight off and if you appeal they will have as much out of you as possible.

There was of course a get round that was discovered. Get the sender to dismantle the knife, then its not anything appart from parts. A lot of guys have stopped ordering from the USA due to the siezing of legal knives that they cant afford to appeal. One guy imported a knife called a UK Penknife that was specifically designed to be legal in the UK and customs seized it, shops in the uk sell the same knife but because some customs gorilla can flick it open it was siezed.

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There is an ebay seller in aus selling axis lock knives so its pretty lame. I don't know how they manage to flick them open with their fat sweaty hands.

I thought about going to my local police station edcing an axis lock knife and asking if I can get a permit to import one.... Maybe not but how can you get a permit if they don't know what they are giving you a permit for.

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found this on blade forums

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/854113-Australian-Customs-new-info/page4

apparently they have tightened the restrictions

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Never Import the following knives to AU:

1) Swiss knives

2) Automatically knives

3) spring assisted knives

4) folding knives that you can open it easily with one handle like by flipping your hand or the blade will fall just with gravity, like Enlan EL01, Ganzo G710 ,SRM GB 707

5) fixed blade with both sharped edges.

Followng knives will be ok:

1) fixed blade with just one edge sharped.

2) Small folding knives like SRM 401, 603, 604, 605, 612, 614.

3) Lock back knives

Hi, Guys, I just lost too many packages to have this information.

Cry

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Oz sounds worse than the UK! So far I've only had a couple inspected and they have gone through OK, I want a Ganzo 707 but I think that may get me in trouble if they do check it :(

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None of my package have be inspected from HK/China, the only time customs opened my packages was from the U.S.

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Wow, it's a freakin knife. How they can seize YOUR property when it's already perfectly legal to purchase and carry locally is beyond me. Do you need a permit to carry it?