Airgun import experiences - via personal baggage route

[itsvivekpankaj]

There is no mention of any conditions as such- that it has to come via cargo, and not in the baggage. It's written nowhere in the customs rule book. Whatever is the condition, tell them to give it to you in writing- all the things they stated. Its just for minting money. Or file a case on them. Tell them you're going to send them a notice through a lawyer next time.

Also, how could you get the air guns without researching about it. You're at a major fault, my friend.

Do as I said, even their baaps will have to release your gun.

Thanks Arrun for confirming the same. I am trying again to get my airgun out from this custom. Will keep the group updated with the progress or any issue that I may face

[itsvivekpankaj]

Hello All,
This is regarding my earlier post on my airgun being confisticated at IGI Airport.

As per DGFT Notification, Exim Code - 93040000 - "

Import of 0.177 bore air guns and air pistols will be free for shooters registered with Rifle Clubs or District/State/ National Rifles Association".

In other words, does not fall under restricted items
This notice however did not talk about any custom duty being free for such imports. With this statement, custom is still not allowing me to take away my airgun without paying the import duty

Can anyone please share any other notice mentioning about the custom charges (notice from custom dept) mentioning that the duty is free for such imports
An attachment/copy of such letter issued will be highly appreciated!

My apologies, if I am missing any important point here


Thanks again,
Vivek

[Ponen Wati Longchar]

Hi all,
Been lurking a long time in the shadows before joining this forum, Will be heading home for good from Wales this summer and am planning to bring over a .22 air rifle and co2 .177 p226 pistol. Also might be carrying my airsoft kit. Customs might get pricey but that's what summer jobs are for lol. Just wanna say thanks to all that have posted valuable information on importing air rifles, previous years when I never thought of taking air rifles home because I thought it was not possible-woe is I, should have joined this forum sooner . Anyway keep posting your insights and experiences, every bit of info helps.
Cheers

[itsvivekpankaj]

Hello All,
This is regarding my earlier post on my airgun being confisticated at IGI Airport.

As per DGFT Notification, Exim Code - 93040000 - "

Import of 0.177 bore air guns and air pistols will be free for shooters registered with Rifle Clubs or District/State/ National Rifles Association".

In other words, does not fall under restricted items
This notice however did not talk about any custom duty being free for such imports. With this statement, custom is still not allowing me to take away my airgun without paying the import duty

Can anyone please share any other notice mentioning about the custom charges (notice from custom dept) mentioning that the duty is free for such imports
An attachment/copy of such letter issued will be highly appreciated!

My apologies, if I am missing any important point here


Thanks again,
Vivek

Below are the comments that I got on the Grievance I filled sometime back regarding my Airgun confiscation at the IGI Airport. Very Disappointing ....

The customs duty on Air Gun/ Air Rifle/Air Pistol of 0.177 caliber is leviable as per the Baggage Rate ie @ 100% + edu Cess @ 3% on the duty amount, since the same can neither be cleared duty free under free allowance under Baggage Rules nor at concessional rate of duty of 35% adv. under Notification No. 136/90-Cus. dated 20.03.1990, since fire arm is not covered under both the provisions. Further, This office in the past, has been allowing only one Air Gun/Air Pistol of permissible bore to the eligible passenger, or his authorised representative (as per section 146A in the Customs Act. 1962) under Baggage Rules on payment of 100% adv. + edu Cess @ 3% duty i.e baggage Rate of duty. Further, the goods can be released to the passenger after (1) after verification of document evidencing his eligibility for rifle (2) payment of duty (3) on payment of warehousing charges. Please note that in addition to the Customs duty collected by the Customs as mentioned above; the custodian of the wa ...

Any help!!! ?

[zombie]

Hey buddy, kindly post the entire reply. I am no legal eagle, but they are classifying it as a fire arm, which is complete non-sense.

I am going through similar issue with my Weihrauch HW100 in .22. I am supposed to visit them tomorrow. Let me see what turns out.

[itsvivekpankaj]

Hi,
In the Grievance status, this is the only message that I got in reply. Seems the rest got truncated.
I have filled another Grievance asking for the clarification as why airguns are classified under 'firearms'. Will let the group posted on the status

Hey buddy, kindly post the entire reply. I am no legal eagle, but they are classifying it as a fire arm, which is complete non-sense.

I am going through similar issue with my Weihrauch HW100 in .22. I am supposed to visit them tomorrow. Let me see what turns out.

[karanvir]

Hey buddy, kindly post the entire reply. I am no legal eagle, but they are classifying it as a fire arm, which is complete non-sense.

I am going through similar issue with my Weihrauch HW100 in .22. I am supposed to visit them tomorrow. Let me see what turns out.

Hi! Have you had any luck with getting the HW100 .22 released? I have an AA .22 detained at IGI Airport and am working to get it released.

[Jas123]

Hi guys,

My name is Jasjiv, and i am from New Delhi and am new here. Have been a member for a while and have been visiting the forum off and on, but posting for the first time.. i think.

Anyways i bought a Benjamin marauder from the US and carried it as part of my hand baggage. Was stopped at the Delhi airport and asked to produce the documents, which i did - Invoice, Membership card of the Delhi Rifle association and a Letter stating that i am a member of the Rifle Association.

The documents were satisfactory to the customs, and said i was entitled to import the air gun, however i would have to pay 100% duty on the same. When i showed them the DGFT notification, allowing .177 to be imported "freely", they said "Freely means" its a restricted item but you as a member of a rifle association and import it freely. It does not mean free from duty.

I told him that if this rifle was imported via UPS or Fedex, then i would not have paid any duty as many have done so in the past. To which he agreed and said yes that is possible under cargo / courier but not under hand baggage. As this is hand baggage, it falls under a diff notification. I told him he is wrong, and how can there be 2 rules for the same product being imported in the same country, just diff shipping method, to which he said - that is what the rule is.

I left my rifle with him in detention, and came out of the airport to do further research. On talking to other shooters and seeing past posts in this forum, i found out that 100% will be charged if bringing the gun via personal baggage. I was convinced that the law was being interpreted by the IGI customs as per their convenience. Anyways i figured i could fight and file appeals, but that would take weeks and months. So i went and paid the duty the next day and got the gun released. All took a total of 2 hours.

So for future imports only use UPS or other courier companies. You will pay shipping, however no duty.

J

[Vikram]

Jasjiv,

That was unfortunate. Why not file an RTI about it? Just a thought. Congratulations on your new air rifle.

Best-
Vikram

[tiwariarrun]

Dear Jasjiv,
You could still claim the refund. Anyway, that's your call. Also, it's not just about the money, but doing whats right.

Cheers,
AT

[Jas123]

Thanks Vikram..

AT - You are correction, its about what is right and wrong. However, as mentioned, this correction of interpretation, which could swing either ways, would require a few weeks of appeals, RTI, applications, visits etc etc, which is something i was not willing to do. However, i am unaware of the "Other Notification", would request you to please share a link for that here, so i can evaluate my situation.

Thanks
J

[ScoutSniper]

I got an air-soft gun through personal baggage route. The departure airport scanned the shipment and I showed them the bill and everything and they cleared it and sent it for loading onto the cargo bay of the plane!

It arrived safe at the destination with me

The customs slip(Attached to the immigration form) clearly stated that I could carry 25k INR worth of stuff with me, if traveling from anywhere except from Hong Kong or China(from where, I could carry upto 6kINR worth of stuff) without paying duty!

Edit - Removed some blabber! lol

[predator96]

ScoutSniper which gun were you carrying ,cause I've heard only pistols can be imported without getting siezed, though I might be wrong.Also If your airsoft is more than 25k then would you how much import duty has to be paid.Thanks

[ScoutSniper]

ScoutSniper which gun were you carrying ,cause I've heard only pistols can be imported without getting siezed, though I might be wrong.Also If your airsoft is more than 25k then would you how much import duty has to be paid.Thanks

I think ppl have the impression that pistols can be imported as they can be easily kept in the luggage and there's no need for it to be carried separately as the box is usually small and can get lost!! So the cust. ppl might not notice as you didn't bring anything extra!

The airsoft that I got with me was too big to be carried inside the luggage. So, I got the box wrapped thoroughly at the departure airport, for which they charged equivalent of 400INR and then it went for security check!

From what I've read, the duty is ~36% or so (I'm not sure )

I really want to know what all documents we are supposed to have to formally import an airsoft without cust. ppl creating any more hassles for us!!

@Tiwariarun

Is there an official document(likea universal NOC) stating that importing airsoft is ok, which we can show to cust. ppl just in case they question the importing of it.

[tiwariarrun]

J,

There's no need to file any RTI, or anything. Its a straight forward rule. You missed to attach the document, the babus knew it was the best chance to bill you for nothing.