Customs Request for Firearms Licence

Gumbo

here’s a new one!

Ordered a bipod online.
UPS just called saying customs want a copy of my firearms licence.

They are telling me it has to be presented to customs in person in Dublin Airport.

Never heard that before!

Update. Called customs in DAA. Explained it was a bipod. They say “ohh”. We’ll release that now!

otmmyboy2

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058381308/customs-request-for-firearms-licence

Customs overstepping and not knowing what they're doing.

Yup sounds pretty normal alright.

Surprised they were so reasonable when you called, that aspect is highly unusual.

Gumbo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122857167#Comment_122857167

Surprised it was so easy too.
Customs said to tell UPS the system would be updated on 10 mins. Then uncollected the item from the local warehouse in Finglas. So it was sitting there either way.

Esel

Maybe Bruce Heller is retired by now... 😀

"C'mere buddy, yeah it's just a bipod, but it's a bipod for a RIFLE, and you need a license for a RIFLE, Its a HIGH- POWERED RIFLE isn't it, pal? " 😄

JP22

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058381308/customs-request-for-firearms-licence

It seems customs and its employees do not know the actual rules/regulations/laws/etc governing firearms and firearm parts.

Gumbo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122863815#Comment_122863815

I said to him while on the phone, I’m here in decathlon and they sell bipods 😂

dc99

I’d say the hardest part of this was to find the phone number for custom in DUB…going by how anonymous the gov departments like to be :-)

Gumbo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122902483#Comment_122902483

UPS gave it to me by email.

I'll post it here for future searchers…

01-7383685

Mellor

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122863815#Comment_122863815

Once they heard it was a bipod it was released. More like it gets flagged due to the sender being "Guns R Us" or whatever. I've had similar happen due to the sender before.

Gumbo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122904568#Comment_122904568

I agree. But the box was opened and checked and they still left it sitting there until i either showed up with a licence or luckily enough, called them to clarify.

Mellor

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122904579#Comment_122904579

I always feel anyone that is in any way competent in those organisations, advances very quickly out of the "box-opener" type rolls. Ensure consistent level of ineptitude on the ground.

Gumbo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122904995#Comment_122904995

:) 😂

garrettod

This has got me wondering, what would they let you bring in, if you had a licence?

I seriously doubt that they've the expertise to read and interpret a licence, correctly.

Grizzly 45

On Customs.

I got to talking to the senior enforcement /investigation figure about my "French Connection " import and now how inexplically a set of anti walk pins for an AR from Germany, no less have landed being sent back to Germany. This is the intresting thing.Customs do not have the authorithy to revoke imports into Ireland, and they only get involved if either An Post or the courier company notices anything suss and calls them in to investigate the package.Only the AP/courier company can return to sender and as obviously AP personel are in the majority clueless about our gun laws, they are proably erring on the side of caution and either sending it back to sender or getting C&E involved and saying "it's a customs issue" to buck pass and save themselves sending out a notification to us that our parcel has a problem and could we contact AP to clarify.

Customs officers can be just as helpless on firearms laws and either then refer to AGS and or the DOJ to decide what is contraband firearms/components. AGS will go and see if there is an import cert issued by the DOJ,and a corosponding AGS issued liscense for a firearm or that in the case of critical bits you are already liscensed to that particular firearm type,or confirm with you,the importer is it going to a regd firearms dealer in Ireland,IF it is stopped .If so both are good.If not there is a major problem for you as the paperwork doesnt match,so a good explanation would be necessary on your part.

A SUGGESTION would be to ask your exporter if you are doing a private import of a firearm /critical component parts,[such as barrels,recivers bolts] is to include a photocopy of your Irish import lic for EU or US export/import permit in the shipping documents,so then AP/customs have a frame of reference as to the legality and be able to clear the gun/components a lot quicker. BUT that should not apply to accessories,mags,pins,spare parts,stocks etc.