When you come into the US, in theory, you have to declare everything. I think you are allowed 2 quarts of booze in the US, 2 cartons of cigs and 20 cigars. Something like that. I cant remember how much wine you are allowed. I went through customs with a case of wine from Australia a couple of years ago, they said nothing. After that you have to pay taxes. They just raised the amount of stuff you are allowed to bring in. It used to be $400.00 worth of stuff. Now I think it is around $1200.00.

I personally have never had a problem with meds. Last wednesday I got the Gestapo search at the airport. I had no reservation, I just called about 3 hours before the flight and bought the ticket, one-way, so they really hosed me at security. I had 4 pill bottles, they did not even look at the labels. I have NEVER been questioned about meds, including dozens of national flight security checks post 9/11 and dozens of international flights.

I mentioned this on another thread, the only time I have ever had a problem with customs, my wife and I had a shop till you drop long weekend in Italy. We declared a fraction of what we bought, my wife bought a full length shearling from Ferragamo, among many other things....We just had to pony up a few hundred bucks for duty.

I flew in from Nairobi last summer and brought back dihydrocodiene and rohypnol. Someone on this site seemed convinced that I was very lucky; that they would throw my in the clink if they caught me, I had about a dozen rohypnols. So I called BOTH the DEA and Customs and explained the situation. "I was in a foreign country went into a pharmacy and asked for a sleep aid for ther plane. I was sold the Rohypnol, for about 3 bucks". It listed the generic name on the blister pack, not "Rohypnol" According to the press offices at the DEA and Customs the worst that would happened is that they would have taken the rohypnol and tossed it. They affirmed the fact that you can bring in a specific amount of meds (50 doses? Cant remember exactly). They were far more concerned about the questionable quality of meds bought overseas than what I had brought in. They did say that the quality of meds in England and in Western Europe are fine.

Personally, for me, as a goofy, upper middle class white guy from the US who travels frequently and all over the world, I never worry about meds. Z.