Do they open packages in customs?

Does Canada open all packages at customs to view contents or just from certain countries?

• I keep seeing Q's from people saying their package has been detained by customs to be "reviewed". Of all the countries I've either lived in or shipped stuff to (never Canada though) so far as I'm aware, there's never been an instance where that country has opened the package; there's always a green customs form of declaration (contents and value) on the package, no matter where in the world it's sent from or to (as long as it goes abroad). So far as I know all those countries don't peek unless you know (powder or liquids leak that sort of thing). From the posts I've read, I'm under the impression that Canada always opens all packages incoming to Canada (for duty/taxes/safety purposes or etc...). Am I correct?? Are all packages examined like this? If not, then why does Canada customs hold packages for several days? Just to read the green declaration form before sending them over to destination or...????

• Answer:

  Customs mailroom 101 Item arrives from international shipper. Package visually inspected. Is it leaking, does it have an address, does it have some customs documentation with it.Due to bad people sending things they should not packages scanned by machine for various things for example radiation, explosives and so on. Random packages are inspected to determine honesty of labels and documentation. Some packages are inspected as they contain goods that may or may not be allowed into Canada and further inspection is needed to determine the admissibility of the item. Others are opened as documents do not match package. Example this box contains 10 Whizbangs package is only large enough to hold one What is inside?(10 New improved small Whizbangs) or 10 Whatsits a mislabel or fraud or attempt to smuggle. After inspection package may be re-closed and sent on,paperwork corrected or package held for payment of duty or returned to sender.Volume of packages ,completeness of paperwork determines how fast a package moves along the line.Your package may not be inspected or need extra paperwork or whatever. It will be dealt with when all the other packages in the mail bag have been dealt with. If yours comes out of the bag first it is dealt with first if yours is the last out of the bag it will be dealt with a little latter. Depending on staffing the actual time the package arrives to the customs room the TOTAL number of packages that arrive with it will determine how long it takes to go from one end to the other.ANY PACKAGE can be opened for inspection. You may come to the customs facility and they will open it in front of you. This usually done for commercial shippers as there are many things to be checked verify contents complete paperwork determine correct duty(many items pay 0%).Canada PEEKS no more or less than other countries. Most shipments come from the United States and product rules are similar and usually pass through quickly. Shipments from farther away usually need more scrutiny. Many countries because of geographic location and internal rules of themselves and their neighbours handle packages in different ways but they all follow the same basic. The vast majority of packages are not opened but they do pass by the inspector for a decision. Millions of packages are handled every day. Many writers seem to think that there are only a handful and it only takes a minute or two to inspect them all.