does US customs prosecute individuals for DVD smuggling if they are for personal use?

Question

I have a few "case logics" of DVDs that I've owned in China. I am moving back to the US (was teaching English in China) and was thinking about putting it in my shipment (via sea).. any concerns?

Answer 1

Depends on how many you have, I had about 30 (including '24' seasons 1,2,3 AND 4 :):):):) Sorry to gloat!), and spent time separating the DVD's themselves from the actual covers (many just throw them out, I wanted to keep them) and put them separate in my 2 suitcases. Didn't bat anyone's eyelids.

Answer 2

I've never heard of anyone having a problem, but there could always be a first. However, I doubt there would be prosecution. Maybe confiscation, at most. They are for your personal use and not for resale. In China, it is legal to buy the copies, so you really haven't broken any laws.

John, I've lived here for 6 years and have bought literally thousands of DVDs. No exaggeration - THOUSANDS. (No TV to watch and no movies to go to.) I'd say about 5% are bad, but I definitely don't buy the ones that have just come out. They are filmed off the screen. I ask the seller if they are filmed off the screen and if he says yes, I don't buy. If he says no, I buy. I can bring them back if I don't like the quality. Most of my DVDs are of excellent quality. Even the TV series that are recorded from the TV are quite good. However, I have learned that you have to use a cheap, Chinese DVD player. The more expensive ones won't play many of the street DVDs.

Answer 3

I have never had a problem taking DVD's out of China. I take them out of the case (that plastic cover one, you know what I mean) and put them into my own DVD wallet. I have done this a couple of times. I heard one of my friends say that if they want to know about the DVD's you baught, tell them that you got it at 'The Friendship store' - The government controlled market/store. I have never heard anything about sending them by sea though.

Answer 4

The answer is up for debate. Some people are caught, some arent.
I have made the trip 4 times with assorted DVDs (flying with them) and not really had a problem.
Never tired sending them.
I think they key is personal use. If you are not sending several copies of the same movie, I doubt you will have a problem.

Answer 5

this kind of problems have existed for years. The customs usually dont look too kindly on these matters. So if they dont check, u are cool, but if they do, then lots and lots and problems. I think it's probably better to either send data online to your home computer or split the data and store on some of those free huge online places. since u own the DVDs, i dont think sending the data to your self is illegal

Answer 6

yes they do! US Customs does not care what the INTENT of use is...POSSESSION is the issue. However, you can ditch the cover and keep the CDs , since thery are for personal use and they can go undected. Just don't bring 1,999 in and think that's going to fly. If you get causght there will be some penalty/fines. Justavoid it, you don't want hassles with "Homeland Security".

Answer 7

Yes. They would also prosecute individuals for smuggling drugs even if they are for personal use.

Answer 8

i bought some dvd's just for kicks. the quality compared to the u.s. wasn't even close. they're really cheap but the key word is cheap, you get what you pay for........

Answer 9

Gee, I dunno. Do you think they'd prosecute you for cocaine smuggling if it was for personal use? How about jewel smuggling if you were the only one who was going to wear them? Yep, they will, and yep, you're screwed.

Answer 10

yes