Good luck on getting anything back. The airport officials and the airlines have nothing to do with customs.

I know nothing more than what I wrote, except that it was a flight from Phoenix that arrived yesterday, (Sunday). I agree with everything said. I probably would have raised hell too, but could certainly sympathize with anyone being a tad intimidated by officialdom in a foreign land.
These comments and suggestions will hopefully get back to the individual involved, who can then decide to pursue the matter.....or not.
Don't shoot the messenger.

Certainly not criticizing you. Sometimes I'm simply amazed at folks' timidity to question "authority" and to defend themselves or to take up for their brothers and sisters.

I'm posting this third party info at the request of a friend, whose relative witnessed the incident today, at Zihua's airport:

A foreign tourist arriving from the USA hit the "red button" at Aduana. The Customs agent, on discovering some power tools in the individual's suitcase, stated, in effect:

"Sir, these power tools are not allowed in Mexico. Their use takes away jobs from Mexicans."

Answer not recorded, but this visiting tourist/expat lost his power tools, which will probably end up in the tool shed of the customs employee who confiscated them. Or that of his cousin.

The individual who witnessed this seizure seems to remember, before landing, reading in the info brochure provided by "Aduana" that used power tools WERE permitted entry into Mexico.
If so, the actions of the customs agent amount to theft. The incident must surely have left a sour taste in the mouth of the visitor. Welcome to Zihua!

And so then what did they do? Nothing? Because I would've insisted that first they showed me the regulation stating power tools were not allowed, and second I would've insisted to speak with a superior. Power tools are NOT listed on any list of banned articles that I can find, so someone apparently gave up their property a little too readily.

Frankly I seriously doubt the Aduana's official said what is claimed "in effect" because it makes no sense.

Posting such complaints here is all good and well, but it does nothing to recover the confiscated property or punish the officials in government.

Did anyone get the name of the Aduana official? How about at least a time and date of the incident?

I mean, even though this is third party info witnessed by someone else, folks need to get involved and stick up for each other. I can do nothing to help as a concerned Mexican citizen without more concrete details, but the folks who witnessed this incident were indeed in a position to step up to the plate.

Here is where a formal complaint can be made: Aduanas: Quejas y Denuncias

I dealt with a Supervisor at the airport here in Zihuatanejo a few years back which ended in much success. Just a thought.

The person this happened to should also notify the airline company he flew in on back in the originating country.

Seizing the tools was a big no-no. Sorry this happened.

A foreign tourist arriving from the USA hit the "red button" at Aduana. The Customs agent, on discovering some power tools in the individual's suitcase, stated, in effect:

"Sir, these power tools are not allowed in Mexico. Their use takes away jobs from Mexicans."

Answer not recorded, but this visiting tourist/expat lost his power tools, which will probably end up in the tool shed of the customs employee who confiscated them. Or that of his cousin.

The individual who witnessed this seizure seems to remember, before landing, reading in the info brochure provided by "Aduana" that used power tools WERE permitted entry into Mexico.
If so, the actions of the customs agent amount to theft. The incident must surely have left a sour taste in the mouth of the visitor. Welcome to Zihua!