Frozen meat to Israel

[askmoses]

I once checked a suitcase with El Al that was 70 lbs of just meat and ice. I get to Israel, and they can't find my bags. 3 days later they deliver my 2 suitcases to my yeshiva. This was in August. You were able to smell the suitcase from nearly a block away.

LOL I know of a similar story of lost baggage containing shmaltz for pesach. Took the airline a couple days, but they quickly made it a priority to track them down and delivery their lost package

[Moishebatchy]

So far, it seems like the general consensus is that frozen meat is not permitted... But what generally happens if you get caught? Do they automatically confiscate it? Is there any chance of getting off the hook, or do you know that you are for sure screwed as soon as they pull you aside? Is there anything one can say to get out of it?

Also, with regards to not attracting attention in the first place... I've often wondered if it would be a good idea, instead of taking the Green Lane, to fill out a declaration form with a few trivial items and go through the Red Lane.  Would that work, as they will only go over the declared items, and be so proud of me for being "honest" that they won't make me too crazy? Or can it backfire - i.e. once they have my attention, they will go through all 6 of my bags to make sure I don't have anything else?

[rots5]

So far, it seems like the general consensus is that frozen meat is not permitted... But what generally happens if you get caught? Do they automatically confiscate it? Is there any chance of getting off the hook, or do you know that you are for sure screwed as soon as they pull you aside? Is there anything one can say to get out of it?

Also, with regards to not attracting attention in the first place... I've often wondered if it would be a good idea, instead of taking the Green Lane, to fill out a declaration form with a few trivial items and go through the Red Lane.  Would that work, as they will only go over the declared items, and be so proud of me for being "honest" that they won't make me too crazy? Or can it backfire - i.e. once they have my attention, they will go through all 6 of my bags to make sure I don't have anything else?

i in my personal experience have brought meat in and have no gotten caught, though one time i was with someone who brought a full suitcase in for succcos and he got stopped and he said he needed it bec of dietary reasons and that his family member had diabetes and it had no sugar...they let him go but this was 3 yrs ago so i am not sure, my mother in law just brought in this week for my bro in law and she did not get caught eithr;

as to the green lane red lane, it sounds like a smart idea, but they hate everyone those ppl, i got busted bringing in a computer and they fined me a boat load even though i used it already and was for personal use and so on, and from there they went to check all my luggage

[Jkhein]

Green red line is an old international trick, not always does it work.

[moish]

i know of someone who brought organic vegetables and was caught, but they only took the veggies and not the meat that they had found as well

[chuchem]

You can also bring in drugs to israel and will be fine as long as they dont catch you by customs...
Meat is not allowed, if they do pull you out randomly and find it, they will take it away and if in a bad mood can even give you a fine

Alot of people do it and the chances of you being caught are small...

I would never bring into the u.s.a. Since you fill and sign and a form that you dont have any meat, so you are really commiting a offence by lying

[PlatinumGuy]

You can also bring in drugs to israel and will be fine as long as they dont catch you by customs...
Meat is not allowed, if they do pull you out randomly and find it, they will take it away and if in a bad mood can even give you a fine

Alot of people do it and the chances of you being caught are small...

I would never bring into the u.s.a. Since you fill and sign and a form that you dont have any meat, so you are really commiting a offence by lying

The USA has dogs that I know can sniff veggies, but that aside only once in my life did I see someone being randomly checked, IIRC it was JFK

[Jkhein]

The USA has dogs that I know can sniff veggies, but that aside only once in my life did I see someone being randomly checked, IIRC it was JFK

I was stopped in JFK. Nice of them, after they stopped me before they checked bags, they asked if I would still like to ammend anything on the form.

[AsherO]

You can also bring in drugs to israel and will be fine as long as they dont catch you by customs...

lol

Meat is not allowed, if they do pull you out randomly and find it, they will take it away and if in a bad mood can even give you a fine

Alot of people do it and the chances of you being caught are small...

You probably have much higher likelihood of a fine with a suitcase full rather than a meat sandwich you forgot.

I was stopped in JFK. Nice of them, after they stopped me before they checked bags, they asked if I would still like to ammend anything on the form.

Yup, very courteous.

[moish]

I was stopped in JFK. Nice of them, after they stopped me before they checked bags, they asked if I would still like to ammend anything on the form.

last year before succos on a co flight to tlv-ewr, they put our entire flight through additional screening after we picked up our luggage

[JEWDA]

last year before succos on a co flight to tlv-ewr, they put our entire flight through additional screening after we picked up our luggage

Yup they look for people bringing esrogim.

[ReadsTheT&C]

Call me a kofer, but why would you need to bring meat to Israel?

[rots5]

Call me a kofer, but why would you need to bring meat to Israel?

+2 

[Moishebatchy]

Simple: my family is in the meat business, so I get whatever I want for free in the USA. In Israel, not so much.

Good enough reason?

[rots5]

Simple: my family is in the meat business, so I get whatever I want for free in the USA. In Israel, not so much.

Good enough reason?

yes! ur one of a million though! :-)

[Moishebatchy]

yes! ur one of a million though! :-)

Couldn't care less - as long as I have a good enough reason, I don't care if no one else has a good excuse.

Come to think of it... If I ever get busted at customs, do you think that is worth mentioning? I.e. "I'm not trying to avoid supporting the local economy... I just brought whatever I had in my freezer in the US, since I get it for free..."

[Jkhein]

Come to think of it... If I ever get busted at customs, do you think that is worth mentioning? I.e. "I'm not trying to avoid supporting the local economy... I just brought whatever I had in my freezer in the US, since I get it for free..."

if it works let me know, my family is in the tobacco business..

[rots5]

if it works let me know, my family is in the tobacco business..

lol and mine in cell phones but after this or this i wont take my chances 

[AI-TRAVEL]

Don't worry about it to much. I bring in suitcases full of meat all the time. Only problem is if they lose your luggage. But customs no big. Just don't be stupid.

[AsherO]

Simple: my family is in the meat business, so I get whatever I want for free in the USA. In Israel, not so much.

Good enough reason?

Awesome hookup, if it's true.

Come to think of it... If I ever get busted at customs, do you think that is worth mentioning? I.e. "I'm not trying to avoid supporting the local economy... I just brought whatever I had in my freezer in the US, since I get it for free..."

Not happening, with agricultural stuff they're not looking for duties, they're trying to prevent diseases from entering Israel.