Wilderness areas are rally the big point of confusion. The actual language is "requested." It is not hard and fast. Excerpt from AIM:
b. Pilots are requested to maintain a minimum altitude of 2,000 feet above the surface of the following...
Just for background is the 249 battery marked BW160 on the case or is it marked BW140? The BW140 should not activate RID. However, I found it took one flight to turn it off if I used either the plus or the BW160 previously.
Funny, I go to Safford all the time. Have my aircraft painted there at Jetcrafters. I have in the past also consulted at the Morenci Mine. Amazingly, the hotels there, while not so great are stupidly expensive (because of the mine). So I suppose...
They just want to be paid, the hammer is the legal repercussions. If they send you a bill, which they may, since there is no longer any exemption for goods under $800. The tariff on batteries, which is part of the shipment is 135% at the moment...
Really, it has nothing to do with the commodity being legal or illegal. The point with them is that you committed a fraud or at least participated in one. It is much like receiving stolen goods.