1. Request the Records Behind a Reported Customs Seizure
A broker’s email saying “seized” may omit the actual agency action. Obtain the source document to identify the shipment and reported status. These procedures arise under federal law nationwide.
Ask Your Broker for the Agency Communication
Request the notice, relevant agency messages, entry documents, and any stated response date. Ask who received the communication and when. Preserve attachments and the original message rather than relying on a forwarded summary.
Inspection, detention, seizure, and forfeiture describe different stages. Inspection examines goods. Detention holds them for review. Seizure places property under government control based on an alleged violation. Forfeiture can transfer ownership to the government. A clearance delay alone does not establish seizure.
Match Tracking, Entry, and Seizure Numbers
A carrier tracking number follows transportation. An entry number identifies a customs entry, while a seizure number identifies the enforcement case.
Connect those references to the transport document, invoice, and affected items. Confirm whether CBP’s action covers the entire shipment or specified goods. The distinction between a clearance issue and an enforcement case determines which customs law procedures need review.
2. Locate the Responsible Office and Obtain the Notice
A carrier can explain transportation status. The office handling the seizure determines the next steps for the enforcement case.
Confirm the FP&F Office Independently
CBP’s Fines, Penalties and Forfeitures (FP&F) office generally handles seizure cases after referral. Verify its contact details through official CBP channels. Ask which reference to use if no seizure number is available.
When asking the verified office to locate the case, provide the company name, entry number, port, and available agency correspondence. CBP does not maintain a general parcel-tracking service, so a tracking number alone may not locate an enforcement case.
Check Mailing Details and Public Notice
Ask whether a Notice of Seizure has been issued, its mailing date, and the addressee and address used. Request a copy and the response instructions. Preserve any envelope and compare the property description and alleged violation with your records. A copy request does not automatically restart the response period.
Do not assume that an unreceived letter means no deadline is running. CBP may publish a forfeiture notice around the time it mails personal notice. Check the official government forfeiture listing for a matching notice. Obtain clarification if its dates or property description differ from your records.
3. Establish Your Company’s Interest and Supporting Records
The company arranging transportation may differ from the owner or importer of record. Identify whose interest supports the requested relief.
Separate Ownership from Import and Delivery Roles
Under 19 CFR § 171.1, a seizure petition must include proof of a petitionable interest in the property. A delivery label or payment receipt may support the explanation without resolving ownership by itself.
Compare the purchase contract, invoice, payment source, and import documents. Explain differences between a parent company, purchasing subsidiary, consignee, and importer of record. Confirm who may sign or act for the petitioner. For a corporation, the regulation permits specified corporate officials or employee representatives to sign. An attorney or customs broker may also sign a commercial petition.
Link Each Document to a Specific Issue
Organize the file by what each record establishes. Connect the transaction to the specific goods.
| Records | Question They Help Answer |
|---|---|
| Purchase order, contract, and invoice | Which company bought which goods, on what terms? |
| Payment confirmation and account records | Who paid, and does payment match the invoice? |
| Packing list, transport documents, and entry records | Which items and quantities belong to this shipment? |
| Supplier, brand, and authentication records | What supports the claimed source or authenticity? |
Purchase order, contract, and invoice
- Question They Help AnswerWhich company bought which goods, on what terms?
Payment confirmation and account records
- Question They Help AnswerWho paid, and does payment match the invoice?
Packing list, transport documents, and entry records
- Question They Help AnswerWhich items and quantities belong to this shipment?
Supplier, brand, and authentication records
- Question They Help AnswerWhat supports the claimed source or authenticity?
A genuine product may still face an import restriction. An invoice alone does not establish authenticity or admissibility. Address the allegation in the notice through the relevant customs compliance requirements. Preserve originals and explain discrepancies instead of altering documents.
4. Choose a Response after Reviewing the Notice
A seizure notice states the government’s position and response options. It does not itself establish criminal charges or a final forfeiture.
Distinguish a Petition from a Judicial Claim
A petition requests administrative relief from CBP. Under 19 CFR § 171.2, the usual seizure-petition deadline is 30 days from mailing. Extensions and a limited shorter-period exception exist. Check the actual notice, and do not assume an extension request has been granted. An information request does not replace a required filing.
A claim seeks judicial forfeiture proceedings. The Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform Act (CAFRA) does not cover all CBP seizures. Under the non-CAFRA procedure in 19 CFR § 162.47, claims generally require filing within 20 days of first publication and a cost bond unless waived.
CAFRA claims generally allow 35 days from mailing and require no bond. If personal notice is not received, the CAFRA rule generally allows filing within 30 days after final publication. Confirm the governing authority and applicable dates before choosing a route. A seizure challenge follows a different route from protests over certain duty decisions in customs litigation.
Can You Ignore a Customs Seizure Letter?
Ignoring a genuine notice can allow administrative forfeiture to proceed and lead to loss of the goods. Paying duties or asking the seller for a refund does not substitute for responding to CBP. Abandoning the goods also does not automatically resolve a separate penalty or investigation.
If the notice is missing, a deadline is close, or ownership is disputed, bring the communications and transaction file to an attorney. Review should address the deadline, the company’s interest, and the appropriate response.
05 Nov, 2026
