Seized: Drugs, liquor, little chocolate eggs

by Matthew Hay Brown

So it turns out that Cuban cigars are only second on the list of contraband seized most often by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers.

Topping the chart? Candy.

Toy-filled chocolate eggs made by the Italian confectioners Kinder and Caffarel lead the rankings released today by the Baltimore field office of the Department of Homeland Security agency, which oversees airports and seaports from Northern Virginia to Southern New Jersey.

Also making the list: Counterfeit handbags, watches and clothing; the hallucination-provoking and tourist-inebriating liquor absinthe; and Hell notes, which are burned in Chinese ancestor veneration but may closely resemble U.S. currency.

Also: Drugs.

As the summer travel season approaches, Customs and Border Protection is promoting its Know Before You Go web site.

"We know that travelers plan extensively for international vacations, and we're just asking that they take that one last step and know what they can and can't bring into the United States," said Michael Lovejoy, director of the Baltimore office. "I'd hate to see anyone unnecessarily lose their hard-earned money by purchasing items inadmissible to the U.S., especially in today's economic environment."

CPB's list of the 10 most-seized inadmissible items follows.

10. Fake U.S. currency, or Hell Notes that appear too similar to legitimate U.S. currency.

9. Absinthe (a distilled spirit containing thujone known to produce psychedelic effects)

8. Drugs and drug paraphernalia.

7. Many types of medications purchased outside the U.S.

6. Most plants, cuttings, seeds, unprocessed plant products or plant-based handicrafts.

5. Counterfeit commercial merchandise (handbags, watches, clothing, etc.).

4. Many types of fruits and vegetables.

3. Fresh, dried, canned meats or meat products.

2. Cuban cigars.

1. Smaller Kinder or Caffarel Eggs (small toy-stuffed chocolate confections).