Bringing "Stuff" Back

[Andrea J.]

Happy Sunday morning all

Over the last couple of days I have read a few postings on different forums and a FB group.
The subject was about USA tourists having seashells removed from their luggage/belongings and being issued a fine, a considerable amount over $100.

One of the tourists implied that it was airport security that took their conch shell and fined them.

Actually it may have been the same tourist that posted in multiple locations.


ShowTopic-g147247-i144-k13428180-Anyone_else_have_a_terrible_airport_experience-Aruba.html
(and in this above link, is "security" USA Customs)


My questions are
1) why all of a sudden are folks not allowed to bring shells home? (I understand that some shells and other items are not allowed)
2) who is doing the confiscating and making fines? No one has said it is USA customs that has been making the confiscations......but I am guessing that it has to be USA customs.

I want to reply to the person..........DUH, stop bashing Aruba's airport staff, this is a USA customs rule.

Again I know that certain things are not allowed and that rules are made for reasons.

Here are a couple of links that might provide some insight.


https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/res...nirs/souvenirs

https://www.fws.gov/international/pd...e-brochure.pdf

[B Likes To Travel]

I recalled reading (in the course of research from my first trip) that it was illegal to take conch shells from the island. Not sure if this link is okay to post here, but this is where I read it https://www.visitaruba.com/traveling...r-travel-tips/

I’m not sure if that warning is posted anywhere in the airport departures, but perhaps it should be if it isn’t.

[ArubaAce]

They will mark it in the persons customs file too that they confiscated conch shells. When I applied for Global Entry they looked up my records and told me that I once had lemons/limes removed from my luggage while returning home from Aruba. It was actually Ms Daisy's luggage but it went on my record. Go figure!

[Andrea J.]

I got a private message from a forum member that told me that in August he had a ziplock baggie of sand, a ziplock baggie of small shells, and 1 conch shell that he picked up alongside a road near the kite sailing area. When he sent his carry on thru the first security stop he was taken aside, had those items removed from his carryon bag, detained and ended up having to pay $100 fine.

It was at the 1st Xray/security spot prior to the duty free area.