I haven't gone back and read every post on this thread, but several of the recent ones prompt me to clarify a couple of things.
First, remember the distinction between U.S. Customs (a unit of the Department of Homeland Security) and the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) (a unit of the Department of Treasury.)
Customs is responsible for enforcing laws regarding what can or cannot be imported into this country. If you are the addressee of a parcel containing contraband (such as Cuban cigars) and Customs opens the parcel for inspection, Customs will ordinarily seize the package and notify you by certified letter that you have a right to contest the seizure and claim the property. Most people who report having recieved such a letter advise that they have simply ignored it without consequence.
Customs has no authority to enforce the Trading with the Enemy Act which criminalizes (and allows "civil penalties to be imposed for) the possession or purchase of most Cuban goods. That authority belongs to OFAC. I don't know whether OFAC and Customs share information or a database, but it appears certain that OFAC's enforcement actions relating to the internet purchases of Cuba did not stem from Customs seizures but from transaction records relating to purchases that were actually delivered to the allged purchaser.
Interestingly, I am reliably advised that in mosr, if not all, cases the OFAC enforcement/warning letters were addressed to the shipping address on the packages rather than to the billing address.
First, remember the distinction between U.S. Customs (a unit of the Department of Homeland Security) and the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) (a unit of the Department of Treasury.)
Customs is responsible for enforcing laws regarding what can or cannot be imported into this country. If you are the addressee of a parcel containing contraband (such as Cuban cigars) and Customs opens the parcel for inspection, Customs will ordinarily seize the package and notify you by certified letter that you have a right to contest the seizure and claim the property. Most people who report having recieved such a letter advise that they have simply ignored it without consequence.
Customs has no authority to enforce the Trading with the Enemy Act which criminalizes (and allows "civil penalties to be imposed for) the possession or purchase of most Cuban goods. That authority belongs to OFAC. I don't know whether OFAC and Customs share information or a database, but it appears certain that OFAC's enforcement actions relating to the internet purchases of Cuba did not stem from Customs seizures but from transaction records relating to purchases that were actually delivered to the allged purchaser.
Interestingly, I am reliably advised that in mosr, if not all, cases the OFAC enforcement/warning letters were addressed to the shipping address on the packages rather than to the billing address.
