The current thread bout a case happening ro a member outside this country made me think of this and I wanted to share with you folks.

I have been a commercial photographer for long time. I learned this "trick" many years ago.When I travel, I sometimes have to bring lot of equipment, as in two photographer twenty-two cases. This one time It was only me and eight cases of lighting/stands/cords and more.

I would wright up all of my gear, with descriptions, SN Number all on paper. Suck as Toyo 4x5 camera SN2 37892. Toyo lease 45mm SN# 89768. Nikon D5000 camera 389765. Get the picture? I then would go to the local U.S. Customs Office, usually at an airport, and have an agent go through my list. The rent d=said, "You only need the list coming back into the U.S., and I explained I was covering my butt.He read through the list and would say would say, "Show me the Nikon D5000with SN# 389765...and so on, with all the gear. They stamp and certify that it was viewed where, and where.

Here goes. I was hired to photograph a new resort in the Dominican Republic - with eight cases of gear. I fly into Puerto Rico, change airlines and fly to the DR. Upon going through customs, the inspector saw all of my gear, and asked me to open everything up. I did. He then accused me of bringing in this equipment from PR to sell in the Dominican. He then said he was going to confiscate everything. I owned everything and brought it in from Washington, D. C., for my assignment. I then produced my Copy, one of several I had with me, and allowed him to read the facts. He told me to have a safe stay.

It is a bit of work but well worth it. If you have camera, video gear, jewelry or whatever, take a photo of everything, wright it up and go to I guess ICE would stamp the belongings.
Hope O communicated this clearly, if not, ask away.

Cheers

The moral of the story is there is corruption everywhere so cover your ass well.

Correct. I met a couple while staying/working there and asked them one morning, what's new. They rented a car, went off campus to go to a casino and got pulled over by a police officer, who then informed them there was a $50 fine for them to continue on their trip. They paid and did a UTurn.

It's unfortunate you have to go through all that trouble to protect yourself.

One customs scam at a not-to-be-named country has it where they would pretend find a bullet in your luggage. People ended up paying to get their bags saran wrapped at the originating airport and also refusing to handle the bullet supposedly found in their luggage and offered by the customs to them to examine.