Last time I imported was a fiasco thanks to Customs in the USA. Customs held my gun ransom until I hired a Customs Broker. From talking to the NRA afterwards Customs actions were illegal and they broke the law. At the time I had to go ahead and pay the ransom and hire the Customs Broker as I had to go out of town the next day on travel for a week. So it was either pay the ransom or leave an expensive sidelock in an airline warehouse for a week until I returned and then take on Customs.
A friend who had 35 years with the State Dept returned home from Central Asia. He had several very nice Russian Icons and some other antique weapons. The customs agent said "These are illegal unless you have the permission from the host government". He had all documentation but had to surrender the items. "We'll call you and it will take a few days". Five months later he went to Orlando to find out what had happened. "We have no record of those items".
What is illegal sometimes depends on who wants your stuff.
