Mavic 4 Pro Carried by Chinese National Seized by US Customs

GadgetGuy · 2025-08-26T04:20:26-0400

Chinese traveler, with family in tow, refuses to surrender his $2,000 Mavic 4 Pro, bought in China, to US Customs upon arrival in the U.S.. Makes a scene, tries to grab it back, and gets into a physical altercation with the Customs Officers. Visa revoked after a 5 day investigation, entire family deported back to China. Now he is blaming DJI, suing them. DJI originally agreed to compensate him for the purchase price because of the forfeiture, as they had assured him he could bring it in. They rescinded that offer, once they found out what a scene he had caused. All this over a $2,000 drone purchase! What an entitled jerk! His family should have asked for asylum, instead of being sent back with him! He ruined their vacation, and their reputations!

tstr14 · 2025-08-26T05:38:05-0400

You can sue someone in China? Don't their lawsuits end with a bullet?

GadgetGuy · 2025-08-26T05:51:56-0400

tstr14 said:
You can sue someone in China? Don't their lawsuits end with a bullet?

This guy practically deserves one. Had he pulled this Customs stunt upon return to China with the CPC, he never would have been heard from again, as some of the comments under the video suggest.

PINEBARON · 2025-08-26T08:53:22-0400

Can a US citizen (at this time) take their legally purchased DJI drone/s in the US, abroad on vacation and bring it back to the US?

Meta4 · 2025-08-26T09:25:03-0400

PINEBARON said:
Can a US citizen (at this time) take their legally purchased DJI drone/s in the US, abroad on vacation and bring it back to the US?

Of course they can.
You don't live in North Korea ...... yet.

PINEBARON · 2025-08-26T09:39:11-0400

Meta4 said:
Of course they can.
You don't live in North Korea ...... yet.

I never have any issues travelling across the land border USA/Canada; I carry all documents, FAA registrations, etc. just wasn't sure about air travel outside the US.

Meta4 · 2025-08-26T10:00:53-0400

GadgetGuy said:
Chinese traveler, with family in tow, refuses to surrender his $2,000 Mavic 4 Pro, bought in China, to US Customs upon arrival in the U.S.

The incident in the title only takes 2 minutes of the 18 minute video.
There's either a lot missing from this video, or it's fiction and clickbait.
It simply says that the drone was siezed, with no explanation as to why.
There is no prohibition on bringing a drone into the USA.

mavic3usa · 2025-08-26T10:18:49-0400

PINEBARON said:
Can a US citizen (at this time) take their legally purchased DJI drone/s in the US, abroad on vacation and bring it back to the US?

The rules allow it but sometimes the rules don't count for much.

mavic3usa · 2025-08-26T10:44:50-0400

These are the laws cited on the government confiscation form*:

19 U.S. Code § 1307 - Convict-made goods; importation prohibited
19 U.S. Code § 1595a - Aiding unlawful importation
22 U.S. Code § 6901 - Findings

*A Notice of Abandonment and Assent to Forfeiture is a legal document filed by an importer or owner of seized goods to voluntarily surrender their claim to the merchandise. It is often used when an importer determines that the costs and legal complications of reclaiming seized goods outweigh their value.

When and why it's used
The notice is used in the U.S. when Customs and Border Protection (CBP), or another agency like the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), seizes merchandise for reasons including:

Prohibited goods: Items like counterfeit products, narcotics, or certain trademark-infringing goods.
Regulatory violations: Merchandise that does not comply with U.S. health, safety, or conservation statutes.
Insufficient documentation: Items that lack the proper entry or declaration forms.

Meta4 · 2025-08-26T11:32:10-0400

mavic3usa said:
These are the laws cited on the government confiscation form*:

If a traveller came in with their personal Nikon camera, it wouldn't be confiscated.
Neither would his own drone.

mavic3usa · 2025-08-26T11:40:00-0400

Meta4 said:
If a traveller came in with their personal Nikon camera, it wouldn't be confiscated.
Neither would his own drone.

Depends on the traveller, where he is coming from, what he looks like, the mood of the agent for that day....

This is what we are working with.

GadgetGuy · 2025-08-26T13:23:07-0400

Meta4 said:
The incident in the title only takes 2 minutes of the 18 minute video.
There's either a lot missing from this video, or it's fiction and clickbait.
It simply says that the drone was seized, with no explanation as to why.
There is no prohibition on bringing a drone into the USA.

It is a bit suspicious. Characterizing what allegedly took place as a panic attack seems absurd. However, if he deliberately did not declare the drone on his Customs form, that could be sufficient for forfeiture, if deemed willful. US Customs has been placing Customs holds on all DJI imported drones by DJI based upon allegations of child labor, leading to DJI deciding not to sell any drones into the U.S. and DJI's inability to stock refurbs needed for repairs and warranty issues. He could also be characterized as an illegal courier looking to try and sneak the drone in without paying appropriate tariffs on Chinese goods, or to give it to a Chinese confederate in the U.S, while trying to blend as a Chinese family on vacation. Better to seize it than risk it. Custom's discretion.

Definitely insufficient information and 16 minutes covering the prosecution of other Chinese for use of drones for spying in the U.S..

For U.S. citizens trying to bring in a Mavic 4 Pro the same way to avoid paying tariffs, if you do not properly declare the drone to Customs upon return to the U.S., your drone can be seized by Customs for failure to declare it upon entry, and your Global Entry will immediately be revoked.

tstr14 · 2025-08-26T14:49:45-0400

Meta4 said:
If a traveller came in with their personal Nikon camera, it wouldn't be confiscated.
Neither would his own drone.

Probably not now, but at one time this was a serious concern. People traveling to places like Hong Kong would buy camera equipment at greatly discounted prices, similar to DJI drones today, and be forced to pay import duties on the items upon their return. I used to take my receipts when I traveled until my camera equipment became dated and showed wear.