I cannot criticize the Canadian Customs Agents from my experiences of many many many border crossings in my career. They were without exception diligent and courteous. In a couple of instances they merely asked me to telephone them upon reaching my destination…and they didn’t even come out to the airplane…they asked a few questions and wished me a “good day”.
The U.S. Customs Agents are ‘’Usually” very businesslike, courteous, but strictly following the rules… in a few instances downright obnoxious… and in one instance (Amarillo…the inspectors name was…no kidding!…”Dudley Wright”…
… I had pre-claimed on the Flight Plan “Comments Section”…. 8-Cases of “Extra Old Stout”… arriving from Calgary, B.C.
I had it stored/stacked in the crew ward-robe cabinet at the rear of the cabin near the lavatory to keep it hidden from pax… they knew nothing of it.
Inspector Dudley boarded the airplane….looked down the aisle at the passengers…asked them if they were all U.S. Citizens…. did they have anything to “declare”… (they nodded Yes and No)…and he then turned to me (pilot in command) and asked me “You’ve already consumed all that beer…Right?”
My pax suddenly took an
intense interest in the conversation.
I replied, “No… I’m the CAPTAIN of this flight!”
He looked at me again, and said, “SO..you’ve already CONSUMED that Canadian Beer…. Correct..?!?!”
I was flabber-gasted ! that he would suggest that I’d been drinking as the pilot of the flight…
…(he then lowered his voice and whispered, “…or perhaps you’d prefer to unload all Eight Cases…bring them into the terminal building for opening the boxes and paying the duties….
…)
“OH ! …(I finally awoke to his line-of-thought)….”It’ has All Been Consumed”!“
“Thank you , All! Have a Blessed Day!” he said, and I signed the Declaration Form ..and breathed a sigh of relief.