Customs at ZIH!
by DGPMich 
, Saturday, December 16, 2023, 13:58 (1058 days ago)
This year we are flying direct from ORD to ZIH vs going through MX in January. Please keep us updated on what customs is doing for foreign arrivals at ZIH! Muchas Gracias!
Customs at ZIH!
My guess is that it is ever changing and impossible to predict. Last January we were taken aside and literally yelled at for having an open, half gone sack of candy mints. He kept saying “you have organic” while pointing at the candy. My wife’s first language is Spanish ( Michoacan) and after tiring of the abuse she unloaded on him in Spanish. He backed down and let us pass. Risky in my mind but it apparently worked. I offered him a mint as we left but he declined.
I am not looking forward to customs next month and have been discussing a different destination in the future. 43 years traveling to Mexico including 23 to Zih. We love Zih but don’t want the hassle.
Customs at ZIH!
by Ixtapachris , Saturday, December 16, 2023, 17:51 (1058 days ago) @ Dalejb
You can look at an earlier post of mine from around the 6th or 7th of this month, but I will summarize it here. We were in ZIH since October and flew back to the US for Thanksgiving with family. Upon returning, we got the green button and were still pulled aside. My wife had jewelry with her and we were told the maximum was $500 per person, so a total of $1,000 dollars. We were given a 'deal' where the customs guy estimated the value to be $2,000, so we had to pay 19% duty on the $1,000 above the limit, which amounted to 3,300 pesos. This is not new with tags for resale or anything like that.
Customs at ZIH!
How did they make you pay? I can guess where cash on the spot goes. Or did you use a credit card?
Customs at ZIH!
We just got back after a couple of weeks and had zero problems with customs and thought it was the smoothest trip through customs in a long time. It’s hard to say what triggers customs anywhere in the world, I view it as them just trying to ensure safety for everyone. Go and enjoy Zihua, we sure did.
Customs at ZIH!
by Tom in WI , Monday, December 18, 2023, 14:00 (1056 days ago) @ ZihuaMePlease
I'm always amazed at the amount of difficulties a lot of travelers have had at Zihua airport customs. We have gone through there for fifteen of the past seventeen years on our visits, and the amount of time in customs has decreased practically every trip, with last January setting a new personal speed record I'm sure! We each have a large suitcase plus two carry-ons each time. Last year, we did get stopped about five minutes for some metal hand weights in a suitcase that triggered the x-ray machine, but those were cleared quickly by an agent who even tried them out a bit! We never bring in any "questionable" items, act quickly and politely, and expect no issues. So have all the customs agents turned into a-holes in the past twelve months?
Customs at ZIH!
by frostbite , Hamilton MT, Monday, December 18, 2023, 16:22 (1056 days ago) @ Tom in WI
I'm always amazed at the amount of difficulties a lot of travelers have had at Zihua airport customs. We have gone through there for fifteen of the past seventeen years on our visits, and the amount of time in customs has decreased practically every trip, with last January setting a new personal speed record I'm sure! We each have a large suitcase plus two carry-ons each time. Last year, we did get stopped about five minutes for some metal hand weights in a suitcase that triggered the x-ray machine, but those were cleared quickly by an agent who even tried them out a bit! We never bring in any "questionable" items, act quickly and politely, and expect no issues. So have all the customs agents turned into a-holes in the past twelve months?
In the 20+ years we've coming down, we've generally gotten through without any problems. I had some beef jerky taken once and for a large box of used eyeglasses I was bringing down for distribution to the needy, they wanted US$300.00 from me. I let them keep them.
Customs at ZIH!
Some months back the Mexican President assigned control on Mexican Customs to the Mexican Army. The Mexican Navy was given responsibility for control of Mexican ports, whether maritime or US/ Guatemala/Belize land border. To what degree this edict has been implemented by either the Army or the Navy is not known.
Whether or how these facts might affect the behaviour of individual customs agents is not for your reporter to speculate. Basic facts are provided and others may investigate further. Meanwhile, reports of individual experiences of arriving foreigners at Zihua airport customs may prove insightful.
Customs at ZIH!
by midalake , Tuesday, December 19, 2023, 19:36 (1055 days ago) @ papanoaB
Some months back the Mexican President assigned control on Mexican Customs to the Mexican Army. The Mexican Navy was given responsibility for control of Mexican ports, whether maritime or US/ Guatemala/Belize land border. To what degree this edict has been implemented by either the Army or the Navy is not known.
Whether or how these facts might affect the behaviour of individual customs agents is not for your reporter to speculate. Basic facts are provided and others may investigate further. Meanwhile, reports of individual experiences of arriving foreigners at Zihua airport customs may prove insightful.
You are mistaken. The Mexican Military was given the responsibility of the Mexico City [MEX] Airport.
Nothing>> NOTHING has been done in any other airport in Mexico other than Status Quo. 
